John Sinclair Priestley
Born 15 Aug 1913 - Died 30 Aug 1940
- Service number
- NZ39934 AWMM
- WWII 39934 AWMM
- Also known as
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- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 235 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- John Sinclair AWMM
- Surname
- Priestley AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ39934 AWMM
- WWII 39934 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 15 Aug 1913 AWMM
- 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, Priestley of Wellington AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ39934 AWMM
- WWII 39934 AWMM
- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Air Force, No. 235 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- Ground Training School, Weraroa AWMM
- No. 1 EFTS, Taieri AWMM
- No. 1 FTS, Wigram AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- PilotPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 25 April 2026 - By Such Deeds, p.401: Hanson
- Enlistment
- WW2 26 Oct 1939 AWMM
Age 26 AWMM
Clerk AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Mataroa AWMM Pilot Officer AWMM 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 235 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
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Biographical information
- Son of Josiah Oswald and Margaret Moore Priestley, of Plimmerton, Wellington, New Zealand.
In August 1940 Priestley joined 235 Squadron which, although a Coastal Command Squadron, was flying in support of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. He flew his first operational sortie on the 22nd August.
Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940
Brother to James Thomas Priestley, born 1904.
Attended Wellington College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 30 Aug 1940 AWMM
Age 27 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service AWMM
- Killed in Flying AccidentPublic - Andrew - Researcher - 9 July 2015 - No. 235 Squadron Unofficial Diary 1940 - August
Research for book entitled Coastal Dawn
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Great Bircham (St Mary) Churchyard, Norfolk, England AWMM Plot 1. Row 1. Grave 9. AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- Per Press Association:
Wellington This Day.
Pilot- Officer John Sinclair Priestley lost his life as a result of air operations on August 30, according to advice recieved by his parents, Mr and Mrs J.O. Priestley, 184 Glenmore Street, Kelburn. He was their elder son.
Priestley, who was aged twenty-six, recieved his training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and arrived in England only three months ago. He represented Wellington College at Rugby and rifle shooting. On leaving college he joined the electrical engineering firm of Vickery and Co. As a lad he was a keen scout and achieved the honour of becoming a King's Scout. AWMM - Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- 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/2763687
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845614
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 - 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 - Aviation Safety Network:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/455997Public - Antonio - Researcher - 25 April 2026 - Internet research
- Battle of Britain, a website.
- References
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
Wynn, K. (1981). p. 324-325 - 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].
- Information kindly provided by family
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614) - 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)
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
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