Robert Holder

Forenames

Robert AWMM

Surname

Holder AWMM

Service number

• NZ391356 AWMM
• WWII 391356 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

16 Apr 1917 AWMM

Place of birth

England

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 15 July 2023 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/robert-holder

Birth notes

Son of Charles and Kate Holder, of Broom. England

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 15 July 2023 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/robert-holder

Address before enlistment

Hick's Bay, East Coast, Gisborne - then Opotiki and Whakatane

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 15 July 2023 - Newspaper Advert - GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXIX, ISSUE 20940, 13 NOVEMBER 1942, PAGE 1

Next of kin

• WW2 Mother: Mrs. K. Johnson, "The Firs", Broom, Bidford-on Avon, Warwickshire, England AWMM
• WW2 Mother: Mrs. K. Johnson of England AWMM

Relationship status

Single/WWII AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM

Armed force / branch

Air Force AWMM

Service number

• NZ391356 AWMM
• WWII 391356 AWMM

Military service

6 Operational Training Unit AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal Air Force, No. 151 Squadron AWMM

Medals and Awards

• 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain clasp) AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Unknown AWMM Farm Cadet/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was Rangitane AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 151 Squadron AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Air Accident, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed in an aircraft accident AWMM

Last rank

WW2 Sergeant (Pilot) AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 151 Squadron AWMM

Son of Charles and Kate Holder, of Broom

His friend Douglas Stanley (NZ39944) was killed moments before in another accident

Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940

Attended Stratford-on-Avon Grammar School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845611)) AWMM

Death

26 Oct 1940 AWMM
Age  23 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Air Accident AWMM

Cemetery

Bidford-on-Avon Burial Ground, Warwickshire, England AWMM Grave 217 AWMM

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Battle of Britain, a website.
  http://web.archive.org/web/20060403113135/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
  Further Reference
• Battle of Britain Historical Society, a website.
  http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
  Further Reference
• 'Roll of honour',(Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Apr-2015
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/battle-of-britain/roll-of-honour
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2714158
  Sources Used
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845611)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845611
  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 (R17845744)
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845744
  Sources Used
• See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
  Further Reference
• Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
  https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
  Further Reference
• Flight Safety Foundation:
  https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/241007
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 24 September 2025 - Internet research
• Aircrew Remembered:
  https://aircrewremembered.com/holder-robert.html
  Public - Antonio - Researcher - 24 September 2025 - Internet research

References

• Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
  Wynn, K. (1981). p. 214-215
• Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
• Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books.
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
• RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845611) - 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. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744)
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.