William Israel Forman

Forenames

William Israel AWMM

Surname

Forman AWMM

Also known as

Bill AWMM

Service number

2196 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Religion

Jewish AWMM

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM 18 Maidstone Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs Leah Forman (mother), 18 Maidstone Street, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 05 Jan 1940 AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

2196 AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Unknown AWMM Storeman/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was Strathaird AWMM Lance Corporal/Military AWMM 2 Divisional New Zealand Engineers AWMM

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Sergeant AWMM
New Zealand Medical Corps AWMM

Son of Mr M. and Leah Forman formerly of Herne Bay, Auckland; brother of Harry, Barney, Alex and Allen

Husband of Miriam nee Deckston formerly of Wellington. They announced their engagement whilst Bill was on Furlough in April, 1944

He died suddenly whilst home on sick leave

Listed at Waikumete as Israel. New Zealand Jewish Soldiers Project, biographical histories, family visits by Evelyn Jaffe, Auckland War Memorial Museum AWMM

Death

17 Dec 1944 AWMM
Age  26 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed on Active Service AWMM

Cemetery

Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Hebrew (Orthodox) Block A, Row 4, Grave 53. AWMM

Memorial name

• Roll of Honour, Auckland Jewish Community, WW2, Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 108 Greys Avenue, Auckland AWMM
• Mount Albert Grammar School, Alberton Ave, Mount Albert Auckland 1025 AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Papers Past. Digital New Zealand Newspapers.
  http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast
  Sources Used
• Auckland Council. West (Waikumete) burial and cremation records search
  http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/parksfacilities/cemeteries/Pages/westcemeterysearch.aspx
  Sources Used
• Engagements. Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 95, 22 April 1944, Page 10
  http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19440422.2.89.4&srpos
  Further Reference
• Roll of Honour. Deaths. Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 147, 19 December 1944, Page 1
  http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19441219.2.3&srpos
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2919553
  Sources Used

References

• Cooke, P. (2001). Defending New Zealand: ramparts on the sea 1840-1950s. Wellington, N.Z.: Defence of New Zealand Study Group.
• The Evening Post
• Information kindly provided by family
  WW2 1: WW2 60
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  p.60
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• Cody, J.F. (1961). New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• Research relating to New Zealand Jewish service personnel was kindly provided by Peter Allen (February 2026).