John Airth Nelson Mace
Born 29 Jun 1932 - Died 22 Sept 2026
- Service number
- Vietnam 34192 AWMM
- Also known as
- J. A. Mace AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
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About
- Title
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- Forenames
- John Airth Nelson AWMM
- Surname
- Mace AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- J. A. Mace AWMM
- Service number
- Vietnam 34192 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 29 Jun 1932 Public source
- 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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Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- Vietnam 34192 AWMM
- Military service
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- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) AWMM
- Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) AWMM
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
- Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) AWMM
NZ Gazette Number 65 dated 17 October 1968 CITATION Major John Mace graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 13th December, 1953, and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. In 1966 Major Mace was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment in Malaysia, and in May 1967, after service in Borneo, he was selected to command Victor One Company; the first New Zealand infantry sub-unit to serve in the Republic of South Vietnam. Major Mace and his company arrived in theatre on 31st May, 1967 and came under the operational control of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment until Victor One Company was relieved on 12th November 1967. During his tour of duty Major Mace displayed outstanding leadership and administrative ability, and at all times, operated his company with a notable degree of professionalism. His well planned and executed company operations resulted in many enemy casualties. On one occasion during Operation Cairns, on 29th May, 1967, in the area known as the Long Green, Major Mace, while co-ordinating platoon ambushes and conducting a personal reconnaissance of the area, surprised two enemy, and by his prompt action, killed one and wounded the other. By his personal example, attention to detail and leadership, Major Mace has maintained his company at a high professional standard which brought great credit to the New Zealand Army and earned the admiration of the Australian officers and men with whom he came into contact. His competence and resourcefulness, his professional ability and selflessness are in the highest traditions of the ANZAC spirit. AWMM - General Service Medal 1962 (Borneo clasp) AWMM
- New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
- Vietnam Medal AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- 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
- Malaya Lieutenant/Military AWMM New Zealand Special Air Service (NZSAS) AWMM British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve AWMM
- Borneo Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR), 1st Battalion AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM - Vietnam Major/Military Ministry for Culture and Heritage Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR), 1st Battalion, Victor Company AWMM 1st Australian Task Force AWMM
3rd Embarkation AWMM - Vietnam Major/Military Ministry for Culture and Heritage Visitor Ministry for Culture and Heritage 1st Australian Task Force AWMM
4th Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
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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
- Lieutenant General Sir John MacePublic - Stoney - Researcher - 26 September 2026 - Death notice, NZ Herald 26 September 2026
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- Visit prior to deployment as OC Victor Coy. Chief of Defence Staff 1987 to 1991.
Photo of Maj J.A. Mace in The Officers, 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Terendak Camp, Malaya 1966-67) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 22 Sept 2026 AWMM
Age 94 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- New Zealand's Vietnam War Veterans. Personal page
http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/veteran/maj-ja-mace
Sources Used - John Mace, Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mace_(New_Zealand_Army_officer)
Further Reference - Memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War. New Zealand History online website.
http://www.vietnamwar.govt.nz/
Further Reference - Australia's Vietnam War
https://web.archive.org/web/20241003003021/https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/
Further Reference - Fisher, David. “Farewell to an Original: NZSAS legend and Defence Chief Sir John Mace dies at 94.” New Zealand Herald, 25 September 2026.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/farewell-to-an-original-nzsas-legend-and-defence-chief-sir-john-mace-dies-at-94/premium/LFBTGZ3PM5CDVCB3V36YRNOQ2I/
Further Reference - Wikipedia Entity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mace_(New_Zealand_Army_officer)
Further Reference - Howell A (Tony), (2021). VIETNAM ANZACS: Australians and New Zealanders in the Vietnam War. ParaparaPublic - Tony - Comrade - 23 September 2021 - Military files, research documents
- New Zealand's Vietnam War Veterans. Personal page
- References
- Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co.
- Hall, C. (2014). No front line : inside stories of New Zealand's Vietnam War. Auckland, New Zealand : Penguin Books.
- This record was created from data kindly provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- Fry, P., & New Zealand. Army. Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. Battalion, 1st. (1983). The First Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment : Journal / [P.J. Fry, editor] (25th anniversary commemorative ed.). Singapore: The Regiment.
- Rennie, F. (1986) Regular Soldier. Auckland, N.Z.: Endeavour Press.
- Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron - Malaya - Nominal roll (persons returns from overseas) [1957], Archives New Zealand, CAJN 41/3/6 [R21234079]
- Medals and Stars - General Service Medals Borneo - Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R12456000)
- Black, E. A. (n.d.). N.Z. armed forces honours & awards : Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, 1950-1972. Wellington, N.Z.: Defence Headquarters.
- McGibbon, I.C. (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: a history of combat, commitment and controversy. Auckland, N.Z.: Exisle
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