John Thomas Blease
Born 18 Nov 1917 - Died 11 Jul 1942
- Service number
- NZ405221 AWMM
- WWII 405221 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Flying Officer/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 97 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- John Thomas AWMM
- Surname
- Blease AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ405221 AWMM
- WWII 405221 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 18 Nov 1917 RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs J. J. Blease, 379 Worcester Street, Christchurch AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ405221 AWMM
- WWII 405221 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 97 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Flying Officer/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 97 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- John Blease was the son of John Joseph Blease and of Iris Olive Blease (nee Stewart), of Christchurch, New Zealand.
John Blease attended Christchurch Boy's High School from 1931 to 1933.
Attended Christchurch Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
398 hours as Pilot (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM - I heard testimony from Mr Robert Batterby November 2016.
I subsequently found a report of the loss of Pilot Blease, his crew, and his plane from the squadron records on the RNAAF pages.
Welsl next the sea has a shorline with large areas of marsh. As a small boy in 1942 Bob batterby was out on the. marses with friends and found the body opf John Blease.
Mr Frary a local fish merchant came to the aid of the boys , and secured the body so that it would not float with the tide, whilst he went to fetch the police.
Bob Batterby has visted teh grave and laid flowers ever since, he is now 86 years old and wished me to ensure that others knew the story, the John Blease would not be forgotten.
He had a sweetheart called Doris Ampthill who worked at the Lincolnshire airbase, she grieved for him throughout her life and left one million pounds to purchase a lifeboat for Wells next teh Sea, in honour of teh boat and crew that went out on 14 July 1942 to tray to assist her beloved.
To date the RNLI lifeboat is named the "Doris Ampthill.Public - Catherine - Self - 18 September 2017 - Personal Testimony. Robert Batterby, retired Gamekeeper Wells next the Sea Norfolk England
Aged 86 in 2017.
- John Blease was the son of John Joseph Blease and of Iris Olive Blease (nee Stewart), of Christchurch, New Zealand.
About death
- Death
- 11 Jul 1942 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Great Bircham (St Mary) Churchyard, Norfolk, England AWMM Plot 1. Row 3. Grave 5. AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2763644
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845748)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845748
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Killed - Officers (Canada, Pacific, Europe) - Airmen (Canada, India and Far East)]. Archives New Zealand (R17845748)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
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