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Cenotaph record

Alfred Preece

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Book aimed at keeping the history alive

The history of D Company written by Bunty Preece

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Identity

About

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Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1921 AWMM Rekohu, Chatham Islands, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • WW2 16 Norwood Street, Beckenham, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
    • Jayforce 16 Norwood Street, Beckenham, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Miss E.W. Preece (sister), Owenga, Chatham Islands, New Zealand AWMM
    • Jayforce Miss E.W. Preece (sister), Owenga, Chatham Islands, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Training and Enlistment

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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
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Wounded Monte Cassino AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Husband of Myrtle (nee Hough) and father of seven children.

    Initially enlisted with New Zealand Army Service Corps

    Transferred to 28 Maori Battalion, D Company, 18 Platoon in Egypt.

    Former National President of 28 Maori Battalion.

    "The experiences broadened my horizons and equipped me with knowledge I would never have had other than by going to war. It showed me other lands and people living in poverty, and taught me how to live with all classes of people to help and support one another. I also saw the worst side of life, destruction and death. I pray that my children and grandchildren never have to experince the horror and hell of war. We fought hard and suffered for sol little when we got back"

    "Engari kō era ano ngā kaupapa korero e toe ana kī au. Nā tōku haerenga kī tē pakanga kā hohonu atu ōku whakāro mō tenei āhua a tangata. Kua kite au i tē āhua noho a Iwi kē ō tā wāhi. Nā tōku haerenga kī tē whawhai kā kite, kā mohio au kī ēnei ahuatanga. Tē pai me tē kino o tē tangata kī etahi atu. Kā kite i tē āhua o tē mate me tē tukino tetah[i] kī tetahi. Kā inoi au kaua aku tamariki, mokopuna e mohio kī ēnei ahuatanga. I whawhai kaha matou kā hoki mai mō tē iti noa iho." (Bunty Preece : soldier of the 28 (Maori) Battalion = Hoia toa Alfred Preece : tetahi o nga morehu o te Hoko Whitu a Tumatauenga (2012).
    Portrait found in Huria, G. (2004). URL: http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/karaka.html AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    2 March 2018 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 Alfred Preece by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Alfred Preece

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  • Constantly missing you even though it’s been three years. Love you!
    Public - Ava - Direct descendant - 25 April 2021
    Report 
  • Missing you so much, without you we would not be here . Thank you for being there when we needed you most .
    Public - Ava - Direct descendant - 23 April 2020
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • 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. AWMM
      WW2 11: WW2 106 AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1950). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 16 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1946 to 30th June, 1948). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 16: WW2 108 AWMM
    • Connor, T. (2012). Bunty Preece : soldier of the 28 (Maori) Battalion = Hoia toa Alfred Preece : tetahi o nga morehu o te Hoko Whitu a Tumatauenga. Māori Translation by Kingi Ihaka. Christchurch Airport, New Zealand: John Douglas Publishing. AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Loughnan, R. (1963). Divisional Cavalry. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Brocklebank, L.W. (1997). Jayforce : New Zealand and the military occupation of Japan, 1945-48. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press. AWMM
    • Nominal rolls - Embarkation rolls J-force personnel from Italy Middle East to Japan. Archives New Zealand (R22440245) AWMM
      p.74 AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 April 2021AvaChristchurch, New Zealand Direct descendant
29 August 2015Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher

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