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Cenotaph record

Māori ›

Benjamin Goddard Christy

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  • Service number
    WWII 68371 AWMM
  • Also known as
    Benjamin Goodard Christy AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Last rank
  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
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Photograph of Benjamin Goddard Christy. Image kindly provided by daughter Loretta Christy (February 2020). Image has no known copyright restrictions.

Photograph of Benjamin Goddard Christy. Image kindly provided by daughter Loretta Christy (February …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Benjamin Goddard AWMM
  • Surname
    Christy AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Benjamin Goodard Christy AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII 68371 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
    Iwi Māori AWMM
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    11 June 1920 AWMM New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Nuhaka, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mrs A.M. Christy (wife), 77 Grafton Road, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 21 July 1943 AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    Military Cross (MC) AWMM
    3 August 1944 AWMM
    "In the attack on Cassino on the night 18/19 March 1944, Lt. Christy displayed outstanding bravery and qualities of leadership. Despite heavy shelling and intense machine-gun fire he led his men to the attack and when finally pinned to the ground he initiated a flanking movement and personally cleared out a machine-gun post. His example was an inspiration to his men and it was largely due to his efforts that his platoon was able to account for an appreciable number of the enemy. In all operations he has shown outstanding bravery and devotion to duty. (L.G. 3/8/1944 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Christy, Benjamin Goddard. (Ref. WO 373/7/92). Military Cross. AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
    Wairoa, Hawkes Bay 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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  • Maj B. G. Christy, MC, m.i.d.; Nuhaka, Hawke's Bay; born NZ 11 Jun 1920; labourer; four times wounded. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.332.)

    Incorrectly spelled as Goodard in the Nominal Roll. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    21 May 1984 Noel Smith Research Project
    Age 64 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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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 12 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1943 to 31st December, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 12: WW2 36 AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.319, 332, 354-5, 421, 426, 481. AWMM
    • Cody, J.F. (1961). New Zealand Engineers, Middle East. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.537. AWMM
    • Phillips, N.C. (1957). Italy. Volume 1 : The Sangro to Cassino. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.237. AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1967). Italy. Volume 2. From Cassino to Trieste. Dept. of Internal Affairs, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM
      p.259. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • Ko te Reo Huringa Tau o te Ope Maori Tuarua, i noho ki Remuera, Ohaeawai, 1942-43: The Anniversary Magazine of the Second Maori Battalion, Remuera, Ohaeawai 1942-1943. Patrick Smyth Papers, MS-2002-147, Auckland War Memorial Museum. AWMM
    • Nominal Roll of Members of the 2nd Maori Battalion, 26th January 1943. Part of the 2nd Maori Battalion Anniversary Magazine. (MS-2002-147). Auckland War Memorial Museum. AWMM
    • This record was partially completed by information provided by Noel George Smith (2020-2021). AWMM

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