Norman Graeme Garland
Born 28 Aug 1928 - Died 5 Mar 1988
- Service number
- Korea 203858 AWMM
- Also known as
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Korea
- War
- Korean War, 1950-1953 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Norman Graeme AWMM
- Surname
- Garland AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
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- Service number
- Korea 203858 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 28 Aug 1928 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
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- Relationship status
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Wars and conflicts
- War
- Korean War, 1950-1953 AWMM
- Campaign
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- Korea 203858 AWMM
- Military service
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- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- Korea Farmer/Civilian Chamberlain
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- Korea Vessel was Ormonde AWMM Gunner/Military Chamberlain Royal New Zealand Artillery, 161 Battery Chamberlain British Commonwealth Forces Korea (Kayforce) AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- POW - Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea, on the Yalu River, near Manchurian border AWMM
17 Nov 1951 AWMM - Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
- Korea 7 Aug 1953 AWMM
- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- Korea 17 Nov 1953 Chamberlain
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Gunner Norman Graeme Garland, of Cambridge, was the only New Zealand soldier taken prisoner during the Korean War. Serving with 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, he was captured on 17 November 1951 while attached to an observation post of the 16th New Zealand Field Regiment. The post came under intense fire from self-propelled guns while supporting the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. During a lull, Garland attempted to reach company headquarters but was intercepted by Chinese troops and taken prisoner (Press, 1953c).
Garland was held for 21 months, primarily at Camp 5, Pyoktong, North Korea. He described a forced march north of approximately 125 miles in snow and light clothing before reaching the camp, where conditions gradually improved. Prisoners received quilted clothing, and by late captivity, food was prepared by fellow prisoners, improving rations. Garland remained with a British company throughout but maintained strong ties with Australian prisoners, keeping the "Anzac spirit" alive (Press, 1953c). He received his first mail in February 1952 and noted regular correspondence until March 1953 (Press, 1953c).
He was formally repatriated by the Chinese on 7 August 1953 and processed through Freedom Village before travelling to the New Zealand base at Hiro, Japan. There he received a personal welcome from Lieutenant-General H. Wells and Brigadier R. S. Park. Garland expressed regret that he was not released two days earlier, on his mother’s birthday, saying, “I thought it would be the best birthday present I could give her” (Press, 1953c). His mother, Mrs E. C. Garland, resided in Whitehall near Cambridge.
Garland returned to New Zealand by air later that month. On arrival in Auckland, those who knew him before captivity remarked on his quiet demeanour: “He’s somehow just not the same bloke,” said one. “Much quieter—seems to be trying to bridge a gap in his life” (Press, 1953b, p. 7).
He later settled in Te Awamutu, where he died on 5 March 1988, aged 59. He is buried at Te Awamutu Cemetery in the RSA Ashes section. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 5 Mar 1988 Chamberlain
Age 60 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
- Te Awamutu Cemetery, Te Awamutu, Waikato AWMM Plot 82, Row 1, Block IIB, RSA Ashes 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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Sources
- External links
- N.Z. TROOPS IN ACTION, Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26586, 23 November 1951, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19511123.2.95
Further Reference - N.Z. PRISONER IN KOREA, Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27104, 29 July 1953, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530729.2.56
Further Reference - N.Z. PRISONER IN KOREA, Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27104, 29 July 1953, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530729.2.56
Further Reference - N.Z. PRISONER IN KOREA, Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27114, 10 August 1953, Page 10
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530810.2.115
Further Reference - N.Z. PRISONER IN KOREA WAR, Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27117, 13 August 1953, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530813.2.14
Further Reference - N.Z. PRISONER IN KOREA,Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27124, 21 August 1953, Page 7
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530821.2.58
Further Reference - GARLAND Norman Graeme - Te Awamutu - Company Director, Archives NZ Probate
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R16625135
Further Reference - New Zealand in the Korean War Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_in_the_Korean_War
Further Reference
- N.Z. TROOPS IN ACTION, Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26586, 23 November 1951, Page 7
- References
- Chamberlain, H. (2013). The New Zealand Korea Roll : honouring those who served in the New Zealand Armed Forces in Korea, 1950-1957. Wellington, N.Z.: Author.
- McGibbon, I.C. (1992-1996). New Zealand and the Korean War (Vols. 1-2). Auckland, N.Z.; Wellington, N.Z.: Oxford University Press in association with the Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs.
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