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William Thomas Aylward

Identity

  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Thomas AWMM
  • Surname
    Aylward AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Thomas William Augustus AWMM
    • Thomas William Augustus Aylward AWMM
  • Service number
    • WWII 615519 AWMM
    • Korea 206370 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    17 August 1918 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • WW2 Pre 1942 AWMM 413 New North Rd., Auckland AWMM
    • WW2 Pre 1944 AWMM 413 New North Rd., Auckland AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Kathleen Madden, 413 New North Rd., Auckland (fr.) AWMM
    • WW2 Mrs. K. Madden, 413 New North Rd., Auckland (fr) AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      11 May 1944 AWMM
      'At GREEN ISLAND, on 31 January 1944, Private Aylward was one of a party in a barge giving covering fire by rifle grenade to a platoon which was making a flank attack on an enemy position on the beach. In spite of heavy machine-gun fire at close range he continued bombing with such good effect that the enemy fire was silenced. The barge was then attacked by six enemy dive-bombers, which killed the gunner and splintered the barge in several places. Without hesitation Private Aylward manned the machine gun and regardless of his own safety continued to engage the enemy aircraft until they dispersed. His devotion to duty throughout the action was a splendid example to his comrades.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Aylward, William Thomas Augustus. (Ref. WO 373/45/554). Military Medal. AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • Korea Medal (EIIR) AWMM
    • United Nations Medal for Korea AWMM
    • New Zealand Operational Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Factory Assistant/Civilian AWMM
  • 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
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Italy 11 April 1945 AWMM

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Private W. T. A. Aylward, MM; born NZ 17 Aug 1918; factory assistant; wounded, Italy, 11 Apr 1945. (Source: Gillespie, O.A. The Pacific. p.176.)

    'Although the men had been landed in the flank, the attack was frustrated by six Japanese aircraft which strafed and bombed the landing craft just as Smith began to move in to land. Machine guns, one of them manned by Private W. T. A. Aylward, drove off the attacking enemy planes. Reports obtained long afterwards disclosed that seventeen Japanese were killed by mortar fire during the strafing. Fearing that enemy aircraft might return and bomb the beach, Cornwall decided to withdraw his raiders and shelter the barges along the coast of Barahun Island until the midnight rendezvous with the APDs.' (Source: Gillespie, O.A. The Pacific. p. 176.) AWMM
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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
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the South West Pacific.' (London Gazette, 11 May 1944, p.2170.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36508/supplements/2170
      Further Reference
    • 'At GREEN ISLAND, on 31 January 1944, Private Aylward was one of a party in a barge giving covering fire by rifle grenade to a platoon which was making a flank attack on an enemy position on the beach. In spite of heavy machine-gun fire at close range he continued bombing with such good effect that the enemy fire was silenced. The barge was then attacked by six enemy dive-bombers, which killed the gunner and splintered the barge in several places. Without hesitation Private Aylward manned the machine gun and regardless of his own safety continued to engage the enemy aircraft until they dispersed. His devotion to duty throughout the action was a splendid example to his comrades.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Aylward, William Thomas Augustus. (Ref. WO 373/45/554). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7369425
      Further Reference
    • Nominal rolls - Embarkation rolls J-force personnel from Italy Middle East to Japan. Archives New Zealand (R22440245)
      https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/entity/aims-archive/R22440245
      Sources Used
  • References
    • Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. Christchurch, N.Z.: Regal Medals. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 14 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1944 to 31st December, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 14: WW2 6 AWMM
    • Gillespie, O. (1952). The Pacific. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p.176. AWMM
    • Nominal rolls - Nominal rolls embarkation K-force [Korea Nominal Roll], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, AAYS 8638 AD1/1433 (R22440250) AWMM
    • Chamberlain, H. (2013). The New Zealand Korea Roll : honouring those who served in the New Zealand Armed Forces in Korea, 1950-1957. Wellington, N.Z.: Author. AWMM
    • Nominal rolls - Embarkation rolls J-force personnel from Italy Middle East to Japan. Archives New Zealand (R22440245) AWMM
      p.101 AWMM

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