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Cenotaph record

George Edward Buchanan

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    George Edward AWMM
  • Surname
    Buchanan AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 33305 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    29 January 1905 AWMM Otago, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • WW2 Pre 1940-1941 AWMM 114 Onepu Rd., Lyall Bay AWMM
    • WW2 Pre 1944 AWMM 114 Onepu Rd., Lyall Bay, Wellington AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mrs. H.E. Tonks, 114 Onepu Rd., Lyall Bay (sister) AWMM
    • WW2 Mrs. H.E. Tonks, 114 Onepu Rd., Lyall Bay, Wellington (s) AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII 33305 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      28 June 1945 AWMM
      'On the night of 2-3 October 1944 in the area north of RIMINI, Italy, one of the gun positions of 6 NZ Field Regiment was heavily shelled. Two ammunition limbers were hit and caught fire. Two haystacks and another dump of ammunition also caught fire, endangering the gun on which Bombardier Buchanan was acting as No-1- He promptly organised a party to attempt to save the gun by manhandling it over the front of the pit. Several times the party was driven off by the intense heat and exploding ammunition and finally had to abandon their efforts. Bombardier Buchanan then decided to prevent the fire spreading by removing all the ammunition he could get at. In this he and his party were successful after three hours of hard and dangerous work. Although the position was continually harassed and occasional heavy concentrations of enemy shelling added to the danger from exploding ammunition and fire, he did not relax his efforts until the fire was under control. It was solely due to his initiative, inspiring leadership and disregard for his own safety that the gun and several hundred rounds of ammunition were saved. Bombardier Buchanan left NZ with the Third Echelon and served in all campaigns in which the NZ Division took part. At all times he showed outstanding ability as a non-commissioned officer and a gunner and was an inspiration to those under his command.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Buchanan, George Edward. (Ref. WO 373/12/444). Military Medal. AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Forestry worker/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 'Two ammunition limbers, an ammunition dump, and two haystacks in the 29 Battery area were set on fire by shelling in the night 2–3 October and Bombardier Buchanan's gun was gravely endangered. He tried to save it by manhandling it out of the front of the pit, but the heat of the fire and the frequent explosions of ammunition drove his gun crew back. For the next three hours Buchanan and his crew laboured, regardless of harassing fire and occasional heavy concentrations of shelling, to remove all the ammunition they could get at. In the end they got the fire under control and saved hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Buchanan's leadership and determination were rewarded with an MM. At the battery wagon lines two men were wounded, and next night two more were wounded by shelling at the 6th Field RHQ.' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. p. 655.) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    2 December 1951 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 28 June 1945, p.3380.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37151/supplements/3380
      Further Reference
    • 'On the night of 2-3 October 1944 in the area north of RIMINI, Italy, one of the gun positions of 6 NZ Field Regiment was heavily shelled. Two ammunition limbers were hit and caught fire. Two haystacks and another dump of ammunition also caught fire, endangering the gun on which Bombardier Buchanan was acting as No-1- He promptly organised a party to attempt to save the gun by manhandling it over the front of the pit. Several times the party was driven off by the intense heat and exploding ammunition and finally had to abandon their efforts. Bombardier Buchanan then decided to prevent the fire spreading by removing all the ammunition he could get at. In this he and his party were successful after three hours of hard and dangerous work. Although the position was continually harassed and occasional heavy concentrations of enemy shelling added to the danger from exploding ammunition and fire, he did not relax his efforts until the fire was under control. It was solely due to his initiative, inspiring leadership and disregard for his own safety that the gun and several hundred rounds of ammunition were saved. Bombardier Buchanan left NZ with the Third Echelon and served in all campaigns in which the NZ Division took part. At all times he showed outstanding ability as a non-commissioned officer and a gunner and was an inspiration to those under his command.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Buchanan, George Edward. (Ref. WO 373/12/444). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7354521
      Further Reference
  • References
    • Murphy, W. (1966). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.271, 655. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      p.61 AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      p.19 AWMM

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