condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Frederick Bigg-Wither

-
Lay a poppy

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Frederick AWMM
  • Surname
    Bigg-Wither AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    Vietnam 38417 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    7 February 1942 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • British Empire Medal (BEM) AWMM
      1970 AWMM
      NZ Gazette Number 1 dated 15 January 1970 (NY Honours 1970) CITATION Sergeant Bigg-Wither enlisted as a Regular Force Cadet in January 1959 and graduated into the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery in 1960. He was posted to 16th Field Regiment, and after qualifying on various Artillery courses was posted in 1963 as an Instructor to the National Service Training Unit. In 1965 when 161 Battery RNZA was deployed to South Vietnam, Sergeant Bigg-Wither was selected for service with the battery and on arrival in South Vietnam was promoted to the temporary rank of Sergeant. He returned to New Zealand on completion of his tour of duty and served for fifteen months in the Regular Cadre of 22 Battery RNZA before returning to South Vietnam for a second tour in February 1968. During both his tours in South Vietnam Sergeant Bigg-Wither carried out his operational duties in an exceptional manner, so much so that the consistently accurate fire that his gun crew provided with such alacrity earned him the respect of all whom he was supporting. His versatility, competence and demeanour were such that he commanded the utmost respect from all who served with him. There is no doubt that throughout two exacting tours in South Vietnam Sergeant Bigg-Wither showed a selflessness, efficiency and devotion to the guns which is in the highest traditions of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and brought great credit both on himself and the New Zealand Army. AWMM
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM
    • Vietnam Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    Post WW2 Jan 1959 AWMM Soldier/Military AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes

Last known rank

Contribute ›

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
  • Brother of Mary, Alan, Sam, Elsa,Ruby

    Served in Vietnam 1965-66 and 1968.

    Read citation for BEM gazetted NY 1970. Served as Gun Section NCO 17.2.1968 to 12.12.1968 also TOD 20.7.1965 to 20.4.1966. Qualifies for Australian UCG for FSB Coral and Balmoral.

    Ex RF Cadet Kippenberger Clas 1959. AWMM

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    28 May 2010 Ministry for Culture and Heritage
    Age 68 AWMM
    Papakura, Auckland Ministry for Culture and Heritage
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Cremated AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Death notice: New Zealand Herald, 31 May 2010 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Frederick Bigg-Wither by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Frederick Bigg-Wither

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • Taylor, A. (1998). The New Zealand roll of honour : New Zealanders who have served their country in peace and war : 150 years, 1845-1995. Auckland, N.Z.: Roll of Honour Publications. AWMM
    • Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
    • Taylor, A. (1998). The New Zealand roll of honour : New Zealanders who have served their country in peace and war : 150 years, 1845-1995. Auckland, N.Z.: Roll of Honour Publications. AWMM
      Taylor, A. p.154 AWMM
    • Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
      Subritsky, M. (Compiler). (1995). p.268 AWMM
    • The New Zealand Herald AWMM
      Death notice: New Zealand Herald, 31 May 2010 AWMM

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.