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Cenotaph record

Ivon Graham Totorewa Harris

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Ivon Graham Totorewa AWMM
  • Surname
    Harris AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    6102 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    10 October 1914 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Taheke, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs C. Harris (wife), Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    6102 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Cross (MC) AWMM
      18 October 1945 AWMM
      T/Capt Harris commanded 'A' company during the attack to establish a bridgehead over the river Santerno on 11 April 1945. With dash and determination he led his men across the river, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Immediately he consolidated on his objective, the enemy, counter attacked with two Tiger tanks and infantry. T/Capt. Harris, though his company was without anti-tank guns or tanks, rallied his men to hold their ground and destroy the enemy infantry, which they ultimately did. This thrashing of the enemy caused his tanks to withdraw. Throughout the night the enemy counter attacked several times but was defeated thoroughly each time. Early in the morning of the next day, the bridge having been established and all tanks and support arms having arrived, T/Capt. Harris organised a fire plan which eventually inflicted many casualties on the enemy, resulting in the stemming of three enemy counter attacks by Tiger tanks and infantry. Throughout the action T/Capt. Harris showed skill, resource and courage of the highest order and the success of his company was due entirely to his inspiring leadership. (London Gazette 18/10/1945 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Harris, Ivon Graham. (Ref. WO 373/14/237). Military Cross. AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
    Kaikohe, Northland AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

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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  • Capt I. G. Harris, MC, m.i.d.; Auckland; born NZ 10 Oct 1914; farmer; twice wounded. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.405.) AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    1981 AWMM
    Age 67 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

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Ivon Graham Totorewa Harris

Leave a note

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  • Ivon was born in 1914 and died 1981 - During WW2 he was awarded the Military Cross - Ivon was the son of Howard (Te Whakahau) and Margaret Harris of Northland -- If you have any information on this family PLEASE make contact with me -- many thanks
    Public - Leonard Harris - Researcher - 13 August 2016
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. Christchurch, N.Z.: Regal Medals. AWMM
    • 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. AWMM
      WW2 2: WW2 80 AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.405, 420, 455, 464, 466-7. AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1967). Italy. Volume 2. From Cassino to Trieste. Dept. of Internal Affairs, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM
      p.432. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
13 August 2016Leonard HarrisNew ZealandResearcher

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