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Cenotaph record

Gordon Bridson

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Portrait of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson, Auckland Weekly News, 8 July 1942. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19420708-20-17. Image has no known copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson, Auckland Weekly News, 8 July 1942. Auckland Librari …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Gordon AWMM
  • Surname
    Bridson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII O/541 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    2 December 1909 Public source Feilding, Manawatu-Wanganui Public source
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Sister A. Bridson (wife), Public Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Married/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Navy AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII O/541 AWMM
  • Military service
    HMNZS Kiwi Record Book of Naval Personnel (R21346617)
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • 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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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Gordon Bridson was Commander of the HMNZS 'Kiwi' on the night of 29 January 1943, when HMNZS mine-sweepers 'Kiwi' and 'Moa' identified and attacked the Japanese submarine I-1, off the north west coast of Guadacanal. 'Kiwi' rammed it three times, and it ran aground and was destroyed.

      David Graham, of the HMNZS 'Kiwi' describes the actions of Lieutenant Commander Bridson in the Auckland War Memorial Museum exhibit, 'Our Small Ships' of 'Scars on the Heart', "....he shouted down the voice pipe, "Stand by to ram". When the voice came back from the engine room, "What the hell do you do when you ram?," he replied, " I don't know, I've never done it before".'

      Associated items on display at the exhibit listed above are, a model of the Corvette mine-sweeper HMNZS 'Kiwi', the crests of the 'Kiwi' and 'Moa', a cap ribbon, HMNZS 'Kiwi', the sextant from the Japanese submarine I-1, and photographs of the 'Kiwi' at sea, the ship's company of HMNZS 'Kiwi' marching up Queen Street, Auckland, the remains of the Japanese submarine I-1 sunk off Guadalcanal, and the HMNZS 'Kiwi' at Devonport Dockyards for repairs. In addition, a Oerlikon cannon is on display, like the ones used on the 'Kiwi' and 'Moa', reputedly received from the United States Navy in exchange for two bottles of gin. AWMM
    • Amending the first line —
      "Gordon Bridson was Commander of the HMS 'Kiwi' on the night of 29 January 1943..."
      HMS Kiwi should be HMNZS Kiwi Public - Wayne - Researcher - 15 June 2018 - Naval Supply Depot. (1983–1990). HMNZS Kiwi Supply & Demand. Retrieved from Archives New Zealand R2340221 BABR 24141 A1013 90/a 10077/755 1
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    6 December 1972 AWMM
    Cambridge, Waikato 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

Remember Gordon Bridson by laying a poppy.

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Leave a tribute or memory of Gordon Bridson

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  • We love your bravery in the war. We loved hearing about your bravery from Bella Bridson your Great Granddaughter who is in our class. Its amazing you blowed up a submarine. Thank you for fighting for us. Room 17 Papamoa Primary School
    Public - Room 17 - Other relative - 5 April 2017
    Report 
  • Thankyou for being so brave and ramming the Japanese submarine. . I am proud to have your last name my Great Grandad. From Bella
    Public - Bella - Other relative - 4 April 2017
    Report 
  • Mother Lois's cousin. Proud and grateful.
    Public - Ruth - Self - 22 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
15 June 2018WayneTāmaki Makaurau Researcher
05 April 2017Room 17TaurangaOther relative
04 April 2017Bella TaurangaOther relative
22 April 2015RuthAuckland New ZealandSelf

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