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Cenotaph record

William Gibbs Abbott

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Portrait, W. Abbott, uniform in street (kindly provided by family) - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, W. Abbott, uniform in street (kindly provided by family) - This image may be subject to co …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Gibbs AWMM
  • Surname
    Abbott AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ424401 AWMM
    • WWII 424401 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    9 May 1922 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 6 August 1941 AWMM 453 Manukau Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mrs W.N. Abbott, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Parents: Dr & Mrs William Norman Abbott, 453 Manakau Road, Epsom, Auckland AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 6 August 1941 AWMM
    Age 19 AWMM
    Shipping clerk/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
    • Height, Unknown Period AWMM
      5 feet 11 inches AWMM
    • Hair colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Fair AWMM
    • Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
      Blue AWMM
    • Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • William was the son of Dr and Mrs Abbott of Manukau Road

    He was educated at Kings College where he was a member of Town House from 1936-39. Auckland. William was a keen athlete and member of the Parnell Tennis Club.

    He was employed in Auckland before joining the Air Force.

    He completed his pilot training in N.Z. before going to England. In England his squadron gave fighter cover to the D-Day Landings. William was over the Falaise Bridgehead on his 21st birthday.

    Abbott was posted to 19 Squadron, RAF, on 5 August and is known to have flown at least 13 operations by the 20th.

    Attended Kings School and King College Auckland (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    9 September 1944 AWMM
    Age 22 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Zutphen General Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands AWMM Grave 2115. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember William Gibbs Abbott by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of William Gibbs Abbott

Leave a note

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  • Yesterday on ANZAC Day (25-4-2019 ) I payed my respects to William by laying a cross with poppy in remembrance. I only discovered, late last year (2018), William's grave. I am an ex Army veteran and since my retirement have been visiting the War Cemeteries and Battle Fields of Europe from WW1 and WW2 of which there are very many.
    Public - Jim - 26 April 2019
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The King's collegian AWMM
      Collegian 1944, p.3 AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745) AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
26 April 2019Jim Zutphen, NetherlandsOther
15 January 2017KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher

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