Robert Gillies
Born 14 Feb 1925 - Died 7 Nov 2024
- Service number
- WWII 801934 AWMM
- Also known as
- Bom Gillies AWMM
- Bom-Bom AWMM
- Bon AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- Sir AWMM
- Forenames
- Robert AWMM
- Surname
- Gillies AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Bom Gillies AWMM
- Bom-Bom AWMM
- Bon AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 801934 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Te Arawa, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Whakaue, Ngā Iwi o Te Arawa, Te Arawa, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Kahungunu, Māori AWMM
- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 14 Feb 1925 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Ohinemutu, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Mrs M. McRae (sister), Ohinemutu, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 21 Jul 1943 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 801934 AWMM
- Military service
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- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) AWMM
2022 AWMM
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: GILLIES, Mr Robert Nairn For services to Māori and war commemoration Mr Robert Gillies is the last remaining member of the 28th Māori Battalion and served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945, across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and primarily in Italy. Over more than 20 years, Mr Gillies has represented the men and service of the Battalion at national and international events. In addition to annual dawn and civic Anzac ceremonies, this has included many individual occasions including Ngarimu Scholarship presentations in Wellington and laying the wreath at the ceremony in Italy in 2019 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battles of Cassino. He was recognised as a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2019. He has been a Trustee of the 28th Māori Battalion B Company History Trust since 2013. He has been an active member of the Te Arawa Returned Services Association, holding several roles. He recently led the 75th anniversary celebration of the return of the B company to Tamatekapua in Rotorua following WW2. He has long been active with his iwi Ngāti Whakaue, and continues to work on the marae, maintain the war memorial, and participate in iwi affairs. Mr Gillies is a member of Waikite Rugby Club and was instrumental early on in establishing the current clubrooms. AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic AWMM
2019 AWMM - Africa Star AWMM
- Italy Star AWMM
- Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 1943 AWMM
Age 17 AWMM
Labourer/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Nieuw Amsterdam AWMM Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 10th Reinforcements AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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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
- 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- We honour Sir Robert 'Bom' Gillies, the last surviving member of the 28th Māori Battalion, who has passed away at the age of 99. A revered veteran of B Company during World War II from 1942 to 1945, Bom was known for his humility, accepting a knighthood in 2021 not for himself, but on behalf of all his Māori Battalion comrades.
Reflecting on his place in history, Sir Robert shared, "As luck would have it I’m the last living member of the 28th Māori Battalion. Along with luck is the spiritual element that is an integral part of the battalion. You are the embodiment of the thousands who went to war to pay the price of citizenship.
A pillar of Te Arawa, he will be remembered for his courage, service, and enduring commitment to his fellow soldiers.
Haere rā e te Rangatira o Te Arawa. Te Toa o Tūmatauenga – Te Ope Taua Māori Te Rua Tekau mā Waru. "At the going down of the Sun – and in the morning - we will remember you." AWMM
About death
- Death
- 7 Nov 2024 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
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- 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
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Further Reference - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Further Reference - Maori Battalion veteran visits artwork sent from Italy recognising WWII sacrifice (1news, 19 December 2017)
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/maori-battalion-veteran-visits-artwork-sent-italy-recognising-wwii-sacrifice
Further Reference - Māori Battalion veteran, 94, pays respects at WWII battle of Monte Cassino's 75th anniversary service, 1News, 17 May 2019.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/m-ori-battalion-veteran-94-pays-respects-wwii-battle-monte-cassinos-75th-anniversary-service
Further Reference - IN HONOUR: New Zealand’s surviving WWII veterans (Stuff.co.nz). Published 25 April 2020.
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2020/in-honour/index.html
Further Reference - Inprofile.co.nz interview
https://www.inprofile.co.nz/inprofile/bom
Further Reference - Makiha, K. (7 November 2024). Sir Robert (Bom) Gillies, the last 28th Māori Battalion soldier from Rotorua, dies, age 99. New Zealand Herald.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/sir-robert-bom-gillies-the-last-28th-maori-battalion-soldier-from-rotorua-dies-age-99/EFZJ5XYR3BATLESLH2NTGXBQTM/
Further Reference - 28 Maori Battalion images
https://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/soldier/robert-gillies/photos
Further Reference - Bom Gillies Wikipedia Entry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bom_Gillies
Further Reference - New Years Honours 2022. GILLIES, Mr Robert Nairn
https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2022-knzm#gilliesro
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- 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.
p.71 - Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
- Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- 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.
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