He stands arguably as New Zealand's greatest war hero alongside Sir Charles Upham - even though he fought for the French Foreign Legion. But, as Paul Charman writes, the life and times of secretive Gallipoli hero James Waddell are celebrated more overseas and are proving difficult even to make into a book

A French Foreign Legion officer laying a wreath to commemorate Kiwi war hero James Waddell.
Photo / Supplied
A French Foreign Legion officer laying a wreath to commemorate Kiwi war hero James Waddell. Photo / Supplied
He was a pint-sized Kiwi warrior who commanded French Foreign Legion troops at Gallipoli and became one of the most decorated combat soldiers of the Great War. However, efforts to showcase James Waddell's incredible exploits are so far being frustrated.
Film-maker Jasmine Pujji says few New Zealanders know anything about Waddell's remarkable story - but it's high time they did.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10800634