Kenneth David Lumsden
Born 7 Sept 1921 - Died 11 Jun 1997
- Service number
- WWII NZ42423 AWMM
- WWII 42423 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Squadron Leader AWMM
- War
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Kenneth David AWMM
- Surname
- Lumsden AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
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- Service number
- WWII NZ42423 AWMM
- WWII 42423 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 7 Sept 1921 Births, Deaths and Marriages Online
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Nelson AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
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- Relationship status
- Married/WWII AWMM
Aubrey Zillah Lumsden (Pahl) AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- 1946-1948 AWMM British Commonwealth Occupational Force, Japan AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII NZ42423 AWMM
- WWII 42423 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 18 Squadron AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Draughtsman, Lands Survey Department/Civilian School Register, Nelson College
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Flying Officer/Military School Register, Nelson College 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
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 Squadron Leader AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Attended Nelson College from 1936-1939. On the 1st November 1943, whilst providing cover for an American Landing, in Bougainville Island, fighter flak caused engine failure, causing Pilot Lumsden, and his crew to Bellyflop (ditching) into the ocean. They spent four hours in the dinghy before being picked up by an American Landing Craft (Goldfish Club).
Of his rescue Lumsden wrote; " My rescue was dramatic and all but ended in disaster. After attracting attention of a far-off vessel with my survival heliograph I waited for sometime, for friendly hands to pull me abroad - This was not to be! My hopes were suddently shattered when my rubber boat and I were completely en-circled by close range machine gun fire! What the B- Hell!! My Instant reaction was to remove my flying helmet to disclose my caucasian features and red hair with arms thrust skywards to the accompaniment of the best of Kiwi oaths. The shooting stopped as quickly as it had started. (The Yanks wre apologetic afterwards and stressed I was more than lucky to be alive). Neither my rubber boat, nor myself was hit but my 'distress flag' has holes in it. The 'flag' (Red with a white Roundel) was the cause of the trouble. I had erronously been issued with a European Survival Kit, which obviously was not a wise move in battle with happy trigger Americans about. (References to the rescue are contained in New Zealanders at War - Kenneth Hancock and RNZAF A Short History - Geoffrey Bentley)." (Goldfish Club - MS-2004-32). AWMM
About death
- Death
- 11 Jun 1997 Births, Deaths and Marriages Online
Age 75 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
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Nelson Cemetery AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Related objects
Related Serviceperson
Sources
- External links
- 'Onetaua [cartographic material]/ K.D.L 1953 ' National Library
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21531655
Further Reference - 'Takaka [cartographic material] / K.D.L., 1953' National Library
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21534601
Further Reference - Pine, Madison . Goldfish Club. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 20 January 2020
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/goldfish-club
Further Reference - J Force Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Force
Further Reference - Romano, G. (2021, March 4). Jayforce: 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/jayforce
Further Reference
- 'Onetaua [cartographic material]/ K.D.L 1953 ' National Library
- References
- Goldfish Club, New Zealand Branch. The Goldfish Club: Roll of Honour 1954 - 2003. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2004/32.
- New Zealand, World War II Appointments, Promotions, Transfers and Resignations, 1939–1945. [Extracted from the New Zealand Gazette.] CD-ROM. Ravensbourne, Dunedin, New Zealand: Colonial CD Books, n.d.
- Brocklebank, L.W. (1997). Jayforce : New Zealand and the military occupation of Japan, 1945-48. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
- Parr, A. (2012). The occupiers : New Zealand veterans remember post-war Japan. Auckland, N.Z. : Penguin.
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