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Cenotaph record

Alastair John Sherwood Don

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Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories. Vietnam Panels names: Vietnam Names Awatere - Don - This image may be subject to copyright

Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories. Vietnam Panels names: Vietnam Names Awat …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Alastair John Sherwood AWMM
  • Surname
    Don AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Al AWMM
  • Service number
    • Malaya 37221 AWMM
    • Vietnam 37221 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    27 March 1938 AWMM Kurow, Otago AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Vietnam Te Iringa, Kaikohe, Northland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status
    1963 AWMM Married/Malaya AWMM
    Male child aged 3 AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • 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
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Alastair Don and Robert White were killed when the front of their vehicle, Romeo 2, 161 Battery was blown up by a Vietcong command detonated mine. Sergeant Don and Bombardier White were New Zealand's first casualties in the war.

    Formerly buried at Terendak Camp, Malacca, Malaysia. Returned to New Zealand as part of the Te Auraki Repatriation Project.

    The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) began repatriating the remains of personnel buried in Malaysia during 2018.

    This is part of project Te Auraki (The Return), under which the NZDF is bringing home personnel and dependants buried overseas after 1 January, 1955, following a change in Government policy.

    Killed in action, 14 September 1965 – vehicle hit command detonated mine at Ben Cat. Read citation for Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

    Photo of Sgt A.J.S. Don in 1st Battalion The New Zealand Regiment, WOs & SGTs (Terendak Camp, Malaya 1962) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    14 September 1965 Cemetery Record
    Age 27 AWMM
    Vietnam, Southeast Asia Cemetery Record
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Manukau Memorial Gardens, Manukau, Auckland AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Auckland War Memorial Museum, Hall of Memories. Vietnam. AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Leave a tribute or memory of Alastair John Sherwood Don

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  • To the grandfather I never knew, I thank you for laying down your life in the line of duty and for your service to your country. Lest' we forget. Your proud granddaughter, Isabelle.
    Public - Isabelle Rose - Other Relative - 25 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Subritsky, M. (Ed). (1995). The Vietnam scrapbook: The second ANZAC adventure. Papakura, N.Z.: Three Feathers Publishing Co. AWMM
      Subritsky, M. (Compiler). (1995). p. 53, 56, 45, 161, 197. AWMM
    • Gurr, Robert. (2009). Voices from a border war: Borneo 1963-1965. 2nd Edition. Christchurch, N.Z.: Wilson Scott Publishing AWMM
      New Zealand Ex-Vietnam Services Association Inc. AWMM
    • Pugsley, C. (2003). From emergency to confrontation: the New Zealand armed forces in Southeast Asia, 1949-1966. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. AWMM
    • H.E. Chamberlain, Nominal Roll – 1 RNZIR, 8 May 1964, in Gurr, Robert. (2009). Voices from a border war: Borneo 1963-1965. 2nd Edition. Christchurch, N.Z.: Wilson Scott Publishing, pp.139-150 AWMM
    • 1NZR Roll 1961-1963 - Bill Russell, Malayan Veterans Association Scrapbook – 40th Anniversary edition. AWMM
    • DECEASED, 1 NZ Regiment, 1961-63 – Internet resource. AWMM
    • This record was partially created from Cemetery research completed by Carol Foster (2021). AWMM
    • Organisation - New Zealand Army Force - FARELF [Far East Land Forces] - Organisation and formation - [Malaya] [Malaya 1960-1964 1NZIR Repatriation Lists]. Archives New Zealand Wellington, AAYS 8638 AD1/1120 (R22435552) AWMM
      List is intended to post personnel of 1NZ Regt on their retrun to NZ with a range of factors in mind. AWMM
    • Fry, P., & New Zealand. Army. Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. Battalion, 1st. (1983). The First Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment : Journal / [P.J. Fry, editor] (25th anniversary commemorative ed.). Singapore: The Regiment. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 April 2015Isabelle RoseLevib, New ZealandOther Relative

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