Reginald Thomas Winstanley

Born 16 Mar 1917 - Died 27 Jun 1942

Service number: 5392 AWMM
Also known as: Win AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Warrant Officer Class 1 AWMM Provost Company AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Reginald Thomas Winstanley — Portrait, Warrant Officer Reginald Winstanley. - This image may be subject to copyright

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Biographical information

Son of Charles and Margaret Winstanley, of Nelson, New Zealand.

KG Winstanley writes of his brother:

'Reginald T Winstanley. November 1997. ...I have recently written about my parents and now feel that something must be said about my brother, Reg. Born 1917 Reg was 5 years older while Roland and Gordon were older still. That makes me the baby of the Winstanley family and today I am the sole survivor.

Reg was my favouite brother, more so as we grew older and I would do almost anything to be with him when he was employed in the Croisilles/French Pass area. As I recall he first worked at Otarawao ot Wairangi in the Croisilles. In mid 30's and later I spent school holidays wherever he was. My other brother Roland was also employed by Cyril Pike at Otarawao.

Reg also worked in the French Pass, Admiralty Bay, Port Ligar area but I did not join him there. Periodically he would make the trip to Nelson in his small boat powered with a 4 cyl Rugby car engine. I recall taking part in a Regatta in Nelson in the "faster classes" but our chances were ruined when the sashcord steering broke. Heading for the Matangi at the wharf Reg barely had time to cut the throttle.

One would not believe the lengths gone to so as to spend those school holidays, wherever he was. Once I managed to obtain a ride with Pat & Dan Aston in the 'Luna'. It was to Mapua first where they took on a few cases of apples then on to the Pass. It had been arranged that Reg would be waiting for me outside the islands at the Croisilles in the farm dinghy and so it was that this came about. Then a long row back to the farm.

Another time he was working in Okiwi Bay for Matt Hawthorn, felling birch trees, sawing them to post length, them splitting the logs. Leisure time was spent hunting and possum poisoning for the skins (illegal in those days).

I understand he worked at St. Lawrence, Admiralty Bay, with the King-Turners prior to enlisting for Army Service in 1939. Reg's death in 1942 in the Western Desert was keenly felt by the family and the following year I was posted overseas with the 10th Reinforcement. Being under 21 it was necessary to have my parents permisssion but this was forthcoming notwithstanding Reg having been killed in action.

In 1941 Reg was awarded the Military Medal for valour while serving in Greece. Recently I have had a photo of Reg and his war medals mounted and framed and a framed photo of these will be presented to the French Pass committee. Reference is already made to Reg on the Honours Board at French Pass. This has been arranged with Bede King-Turner who has also referred me to Joy O'Conor, Takaka, nee King-Turner who I hope to meet shortly as she knew Reg.

His brother believes he enlisted at Blenheim in an infantry company but the official Nominal Rolls list his military district at enrolment as Nelson, and the unit at enlistment was 2 Provost Company.

He was initially buried at Bir Abu Shayte, Egypt but his remains now rest at El Alamein Cemetery. AWMM

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Reginald Thomas Winstanley