William John Finlayson

Forenames

William John AWMM

Surname

Finlayson AWMM

Service number

• NZ39911 AWMM
• WWII 39911 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

29 Jan 1917 Public Source

Date of birth

January 29th, 1917.

Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 28 September 2020 - research

Place of birth

Canvastown, Marlborough, New Zealand.

Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 28 September 2020 - research

Post war occupation

Journalist, Hawkes Bay Daily Mail.

Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 28 September 2020 - research

Next of kin

WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. J. H. M. Finlayson of Dunedin AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

• Europe (Air) AWMM
• 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ39911 AWMM
• WWII 39911 AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM

Last rank

Pilot Officer (Pilot) AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron AWMM

William Finlayson was the son of John Herbert McWilliam Finlayson and Hilda Kathleen Finlayson (nee Benton) of Dunedin, New Zealand.

Attended Thames High School and Wellington College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845610)) AWMM

Death

24 Oct 1940 AWMM
Age  23 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Memorial name

• Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1270032
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ea - Gw. ARchives New Zealand (R17845610)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845610
  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

References

• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
  Martyn, E. (1998-2008). Vol. 1 p. 98
• Information kindly provided by family
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784)
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ea - Gw. Archives New Zealand (R17845610) - 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)
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.