Henry William Northcroft
Born 15 Sept 1914 - Died 2 Dec 1990
- Service number
- 65423 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Major/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 15 Sept 1914 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- Pre 09 Jun 1940 AWMM North Clyde, Wairoa, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Minister of Religion/Civilian AWMM
- Next of kin
- Mrs D. Northcroft (wife), 35 Shakespeare Road, Napier, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 11 Jun 1943 AWMM Married AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Italy AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 65423 AWMM
- Military service
- 7 years as school cadet AWMM
- 2nd Maori Battalion AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
18 Oct 1945 AWMM
Captain Northcroft commanded a Company in the battle across the Senio on the night 9/10 April 1945. With dash and determination he led his men across the river through enemy minefields, pierced enemy defences on the stop bank and captured several of the enemy without casualty to his men. Appreciating that the enemy firmly held the ground approximately six hundred yards beyond, he once more led his men in another attack in which he was wounded but he requested not to be evacuated until the objective had been reached. When the second phase of the major attack developed he led his men fearlessly against enemy Spandau posts and strong points, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. After he was satisfied that the situation had been stabilised, he agreed to be evacuated to the hospital. In this action, after having fought through difficult country, his Company gained the final objective, through his skill and leadership. Throughout this action and previous actions he displayed courage of the highest order.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Northcroft, Henry William. (Ref. WO 373/14/228). Military Cross. AWMM - 1939-1945 Star AWMM
- Italy Star AWMM
- Defence Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 09 Jun 1940 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM
Minister of Religion/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Second Lieutenant AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 foot 8.25 inches AWMM - Complexion, Unknown Period AWMM
Fair AWMM - Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
brown AWMM - Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
Black AWMM - Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
12 stone 7 pounds AWMM - Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded 24 December 1943 - discharged from hospital 3 January 1944 AWMM - Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded 10 April 1945 - discharged from hospital 24 April 1945 AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- End of War AWMM
Major/Military AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Henry Northcroft was the son of Awhi Pou Kaiwhakahaere Northcroft and Riihi Waaka (Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao). His grandparents were Major Henry William Northcroft of the Armed Constabulary [Defenders of New Zealand pp146-152] and Ngaamo Tamamutu (Ngati Tuwharetoa).
Henry William Northcroft married Dorothy Lambert on 31 January 1941. Their daughter Jill Hinemoa Northcroft was born on 16 December 1941. After the war Ridgley Aounui Northcroft was born in 1948, June Airini Northcroft in 1949, Vicki Makereti Northcroft in 1957.
Promotions: Lieutenant 14 May 1944 ; Captain 28 September 1944; Major 28 April 1945; 2nd in command 28 Battalion (temporary promotion), promotion relinquished 29 September 1945
Served in Egypt with the 9th Reinforcements 11 June 1943
Embarked for NZ on the Dominion Monarch, 31 December 1945
On return to NZ was posted to Reserve Officers List
On return to NZ returned to work with the Anglican Ministry at Whakarewarewa, Porangahau, Wairoa from where he resigned to join the Department of Maori Affairs as a Welfare Officer.
Service Record on AWMM file
Capt P. F. Te H. Ornberg, MC, m.i.d.; born NZ 2 Apr 1919; clerk; wounded 20 Apr 1943; died of wounds 30 May 1944. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.319.) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 2 Dec 1990 AWMM
Age 76 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Rotorua Cemetery and Crematorium, 160 Sala Street, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM Block 6 Section RSA Plot 247A AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- 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
- Rotorua District cemetery records
http://www.rdc.govt.nz/our-services/cemetery-services/Onlincemeterysearch/Pages/default.aspx
Sources Used - 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 - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 18 October 1945, p.5102.). Military Cross.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37310/supplements/5102
Further Reference - 'Captain Northcroft commanded a Company in the battle across the Senio on the night 9/10 April 1945. With dash and determination he led his men across the river through enemy minefields, pierced enemy defences on the stop bank and captured several of the enemy without casualty to his men. Appreciating that the enemy firmly held the ground approximately six hundred yards beyond, he once more led his men in another attack in which he was wounded but he requested not to be evacuated until the objective had been reached. When the second phase of the major attack developed he led his men fearlessly against enemy Spandau posts and strong points, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. After he was satisfied that the situation had been stabilised, he agreed to be evacuated to the hospital. In this action, after having fought through difficult country, his Company gained the final objective, through his skill and leadership. Throughout this action and previous actions he displayed courage of the highest order.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Northcroft, Henry William. (Ref. WO 373/14/228). Military Cross.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7355665
Further Reference - Paterson, Lachy. (24 October 2020). The forgotten Maori Battalion. maorihomefront.nz
https://www.maorihomefront.nz/en/whanau-stories/the-forgotten-maori-battalion/
Further Reference
- Rotorua District cemetery records
- References
- Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
- Cenotaph data entry form
- Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. Christchurch, N.Z.: Regal Medals.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 11 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1943 to 30th June, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 11: WW2 97 - Ohinemutu Informer
Henry William Northcroft 1914-1990 ... (2005, April, No. 61). Ohinemutu Informer. - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.319, 336-7, 344, 346, 435, 444, 455, 458-9, 481. - Information kindly provided by family
- 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.
- 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.
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