John Rothwell
Died 7 Nov 1943
- Service number
- NZ413990 AWMM
- WWII 413990 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 5 Advanced Flying Unit AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- John AWMM
- Surname
- Rothwell AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ413990 AWMM
- WWII 413990 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- —
- Date of birth
- —
- 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 Widow: Mrs. N. E. D. Rothwell of Auckland AWMM
- WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. T. G. Rothwell of Hikurangi AWMM
- Relationship status
- Married/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ413990 AWMM
- WWII 413990 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 12 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- 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
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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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 5 Advanced Flying Unit AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- John Rothwell was the son of Thomas Green Rothwell and Agnes Rothwell; husband of Nancy Ethel Dorothy Rothwell, of Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand.
John was born in Lancashire and commenced his education at the Hikurangi Primary and Whangarei High Schools. He followed various occupations and upon the outbreak of war, was employed in the Hikurangi Coal Mine. He enlisted immediately in the Air Force and was the first pilot to leave Hikurangi. He was granted his wings in New Zealand and saw considerable service on operational flying with Bomber Command. His death was reported to have occurred on November 7. His wife resides at Orakei.
A few days after his mother, Mrs Rothwell of View Rd, Hikurangi, had received word that her son had been killed in an air crash while flying with the RAF over England, she was informed by the Air Ministry that he had been granted his commission as Pilot Officer as from November 1 1943. "I trust that the knowledge of your son's splendid services has been recognised by the granting of a commisssion will be some consolation to you in the future," wrote the Air Secretary, Wing Commander, T A Barrow.
Attended Whangarei High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845615)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 7 Nov 1943 AWMM
Age 24 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Chester (Blacon) Cemetery, Cheshire, England AWMM Sec. A. Grave 111. AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Hikurangi War Memorial Hall, 24 King Street, Hikurangi AWMM
- Hikurangi Primary School War Memorial, 4 Swan Ave, Hikurangi 0114 AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1526425
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Qu - Sl. Archives New Zealand (R17845615)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845615
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.
- Northland roll of honour and servicemen of WW II [electronic resource]. (2002). Whangarei, N.Z.: Returned Services Association.
- Information kindly provided by family
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Qu - Sl. Archives New Zealand (R17845615) - 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).
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
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