Castlecliff Library books bash to celebrate its fifth birthday

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Author: Steve Carle
• Publication title: Whanganui Midweek

Hayward was born and raised in Christchurch. He joined the army at 16, and at the age of 20 was a corporal commanding a section of infantry in Malaya during the Emergency

His first novel, Point of the Spear, is based on that experience. Dave remained a soldier for 33 years and saw active service again in Borneo during Indonesia’s “confrontation” with Malaysia, and in South Vietnam.

It is this latter experience that is the basis of the second novel. Dave retired as sergeant major of the Army — the ultimate senior-soldier appointment. His first-hand knowledge of the world of the 20th-century infantry soldier is recognised as being unique.

He is regularly invited to address students at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. In his younger days Dave was both a race and rally driver, but latterly preferred the challenge of 4WD adventures in Australia’s outback.

New Zealand’s involvement in the Second Boer War in South Africa led to Horse Soldiers and Sinai Soldiers, using the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in the Sinai...