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Cenotaph record

Donald Stuart Gore Marchbanks

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Donald Stuart Gore Marchbanks, awarded MBE Weekly News 1944 - This image may be subject to copyright

Donald Stuart Gore Marchbanks, awarded MBE Weekly News 1944 - This image may be subject to copyright …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Donald Stuart Gore AWMM
  • Surname
    Marchbanks AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    11849 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    30 September 1901 AWMM AWMM
    Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 1 January 1940 AWMM Main Road, Heretaunga, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mr J. Marchbanks (father), Main Road, Heretaunga, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
      DSO citation: "During the attack on the Cassino Railway Station on the night of 17/18 February 1944 in the face of extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, Major Marchbanks displayed organising ability and leadership in a very high order. His field company was given the task of clearing and making good a section of mined and demolished railway line for the passage of tanks. As his parties progressed they were subjected to small arms and sustained mortar fire but under his inspiring leadership a tributary of the Rapido river was quickly bridged and in good time a second bridge was launched over the Rapido itself. In addition to the erection of these two bridges Major Marchbanks had to organise and direct the work of making good several other major demolitions. Regardless of anti-personnel mines and heavy enemy fire he went forward on reconnaissances and was thus always able to organise the next task with the maximum of speed and efficiency. When the section of the route for which he was responsible had been completed he moved on to an adjacent section in order to give assistance to parties of another company which was being handicapped as a result of casualties. Throughout the night with the last three hours under a considerable amount of enemy sniping and accurate mortar fire he calmly and energetically went about directing and encouraging his men. It was in no small measure due to his personal example, inspiring leadership and gallantry that the bridging and repair work was carried forward to the infantry Forward Defence Lines." (NZ Gazette, 1 February 1945) AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Africa Star AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM
    • Defence Medal AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military) AWMM
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Jan 1940 AWMM Civil Engineer/Civilian AWMM
    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

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Served as Officer Commanding (OC) of 10 Railway Construction Company, November 1941 - February 1942.

    Promoted to Major and appointed OC of 19 Army Troop Company in July 1942.

    OC of 8 Field Park Company in 1943.

    Returned to New Zealand in 1944.

    Served as Chief Engineer for the Wellington Harbour Board, 1947-66 AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
  • 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
    • The Weekly News AWMM
      The Weekly News 1944 AWMM
    • Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors. 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
      p.125 AWMM

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