Patrick Fitzgerald was born 1 March 1923 in Poverty Bay near Gisborne, New Zealand. He was the 6th of 8 children born to parents John David Fitzgerald (1883-1963) and Lexena McNamara ((1886-1970). Patrick's parents were both born in New South Wales and so were his older siblings. William Anthony, Geraldine Mary, Margaret Dorothy and Veronica Theresa. He was the first of his siblings to be born in New Zealand. Followed by his sister Frances Esther (O'Regan) who is my paternal grandmother. And then Desmond. Patrick's grandfather was William Patrick Fitzgerald. He arrived in NSW in 1854 as a 1 year old, with parents Richard Fitzgerald and Ellen Kent. Both hailed from Mitchelstown, Cork in Ireland. William married Mary McSporran in 1877 in Queensland, Australia, and went on to have 7 more children. Patrick died 21 August 1988 and is buried in the Returned Services section on Waiheke Is.