George Dittmer

Forenames

George AWMM

Surname

Dittmer AWMM

Service number

• WWI 12/335 AWMM
• WWII 6135 AWMM
• WWII 30281 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Birth

4 Jun 1893 AWMM

Place of birth

Maharahara, H.B.

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 5 January 2024 - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dittmer-368

Birth notes

Son of August Frederick & Mary DITTMER

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 5 January 2024 - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dittmer-368

Address before enlistment

• Pre 11 Aug 1914 AWMM Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
• 2 May 1940 AWMM Waimiha, New Zealand AWMM
• 4 Mar 1941 AWMM Waimiha, New Zealand AWMM
• 30 Aug 1943 AWMM Waimiha, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

• Augustus Frederick Ferdinand Dittmer, Te Pu, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
• Mrs Leonie May Dittmer (wife), C/o Mr W. Dittmer, Waimiha, King Country, New Zealand AWMM
• Mrs Leonie May Dittmer (wife), C/o Mr W. Dittmer, Waimiha, King Country, New Zealand AWMM
• Mrs Leonie May Dittmer (wife), C/o G. Steggall, 80 Awapuni Road, Gisborne, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

• Pre 16 Oct 1914 AWMM Single AWMM
• Pre 02 May 1940 AWMM Married AWMM
• 1919 George DITTMER married Leonie May DAVIS
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 5 January 2024 - NZ BDM Marriage records

War

• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
• Territorial Military Service AWMM

Campaign

• 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
• France and Germany (TBC) AWMM
• Greece AWMM
• 1941 AWMM Crete AWMM
• North Africa AWMM
• Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
• 1918 AWMM Le Quesnoy AWMM
• 1917 AWMM Passchendaele AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

• WWI 12/335 AWMM
• WWII 6135 AWMM
• WWII 30281 AWMM

Military service

• Delta Company, Hauraki Regiment AWMM
• No. 1 New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, WW1 AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Fiji Defence Force AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) AWMM
• Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
  Citation for Distinguished Service Order (DSO): "For gallant leadership. This officer commanded the 28th (Maori) Battalion and in both Greece and Crete rendered conspicuous service to the Division. In Greece his Battalion held a line 5000 yards in length and was attacked along the whole of its length. Despite the fact that its line was penetrated at several points the unit made a series of determined counterattacks, restored the position, and then made its withdrawal. The success was due to the leadership of Lt Col Dittmer. In the operations in Crete the 28th Battalion established a proud record. It counter attacked the enemy on at least five occasions; inflicting heavy losses each time. It took the largest share of the rearguard work and right to the end asserted its superiority over the enemy on the ground, and in every one of its engagements was led by its commanding officer, Lt Col Dittmer." (New Zealand Gazette, 21 September 1944) AWMM
• Military Cross (MC) AWMM
  Citation for Military Cross (MC): "Period: 21 September 1916 to 28 February 1917. This officer left N.Z. as a Private. He has the best record for steady service in the Battalion, he has never been absent for a day save on duty or leave. No action of his stands out vividly as an example of steady bravery in action, and daily punctual devotion to duty. After September he commanded his company at the Somme." (London Gazette, 4 June 1917, p. 5486, Rec. No. 680) AWMM
• 1914-1915 Star AWMM
• British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
• Victory Medal AWMM
• 1939-1945 Star AWMM
• Africa Star AWMM
• Pacific Star AWMM
• Defence Medal AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
• New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal AWMM
• New Zealand Territorial Service Medal AWMM
• Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military) AWMM
• Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM

Enlistment

• WW1 11 Aug 1914 AWMM
  Age  21 AWMM
• WW2 Officer/Civilian AWMM
• WW2 Officer/Civilian AWMM
• WW2 Soldier/Military AWMM

Embarkation details

• WW1 16 Oct 1914-03 Dec 1914 AWMM
  HMNZT 8 or HMNZT 12 AWMM Vessel was Star of India or Waimana AWMM Sergeant AWMM Auckland Infantry Battalion AWMM Main Body AWMM
• WW2 Vessel was Aquitania AWMM Lieutenant Colonel/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, Headquarters AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM
• WW2 Brigadier/Military AWMM Infantry Brigade AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
  3rd Embarkation AWMM
• WW2 Brigadier/Military AWMM New Zealand Infantry Brigade, Headquarters AWMM
  4th Embarkation AWMM

Capture details

WW2
28 Nov 1941 AWMM
Captured whilst being treated for his wound at a New Zealand medical centre near Sidi Rezegh. AWMM

Medical notes

Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded (shell fragment in back) on 23 November 1941, in Libya. AWMM

Last rank

• Inter War 13 May 1919 AWMM Major/Military AWMM
  Auckland Infantry Regiment AWMM
• WW2 Unknown AWMM Brigadier/Military AWMM
  Central Military District (CMD) AWMM

Death

11 Aug 1979 AWMM
Age  86 AWMM

Cemetery

Kauae Cemetery, Ngongotaha, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM Block 14 Section R49 Plot 2 AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
  https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
  Sources Used
• Rotorua District cemetery records
  http://www.rdc.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/Onlincemeterysearch/Pages/default.aspx
  Sources Used
• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24055834
  Further Reference
• New Zealand Electronic Text Collection topic page
  http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/name-009310.html
  Further Reference
• Woodville Pioneer Museum, 1079 McLean Street, Woodville
  http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3100
  Further Reference
• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945.
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Papers Past
  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19430930.2.85?query=fiji%20defence%20force
  Further Reference

References

• Macdonald, L. (1978). Passchendaele : the story of the third Battle of Ypres 1917. London : Penguin Books.
• Harper, G. (2000). Massacre at Passchendaele : the New Zealand story. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins.
• Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors.
• McGibbon, I. (Ed.). (2000). The Oxford companion to New Zealand military history. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
• Studholme, J. (1928). New Zealand Expeditionary Force record of personal services during the war of officers, nurses, and first-class warrant officers, and other facts relating to the N.Z.E.F. : unofficial but based on official records. Wellington, N.Z.: Government Printer.
• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  Vol1: 189
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 2: WW2 51
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 12 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1943 to 31st December, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 12: WW2 51
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 15 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1945 to 31st December, 1945). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 15: WW2 40
• Dittmer, George. Miscellaneous papers, 1925 - 1975. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-98/31.
• McDonald, W. (2001). Honours and awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. Napier, N.Z.: Helen McDonald.
  McDonald, W. (2001). p. 85.
• Studholme, J. (1928). New Zealand Expeditionary Force record of personal services during the war of officers, nurses, and first-class warrant officers, and other facts relating to the N.Z.E.F. : unofficial but based on official records. Wellington, N.Z.: Government Printer.
  Studholme, J. (1928). p. 147
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
  Cody, J. (1956). pp. 177-178
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 2: Includes portrait
• The Le Quesnoy Campaign research was undertaken by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as part of the development of New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata (Le Quesnoy France). This research project was led by CJ Barbour (NZSG), BI Silvester, HH Farrant (NZMHS) with the support of NZSG volunteers (2022). The individuals included in this research dataset were identified as potentially having served in or around the wider Le Quesnoy campaign. Their presence at Le Quesnoy has not been individually verified in every case.
• McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
• Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• McClymont, W. (1959). To Greece. Wellington, N.Z.: Department Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• Waite, F. (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, N.Z.: Printed and published under Authority of the New Zealand Government by Whitcombe & Tombs.