James William Bird

Forenames

James William AWMM

Surname

Bird AWMM

Service number

68039 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Mataatua, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM

Date of birth

b. 1920

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 July 2026 - Estimated from aged when he died

Birth notes

Son of William Henry and Merita BIRD

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 July 2026 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/james-william-bird

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM Murupara, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs H. Bird (sister), Murupara, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 21 Feb 1944-31 Mar 1944 AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

Italy AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

68039 AWMM

Military service

2nd Maori Battalion AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Vessel was Mooltan or Willem Ruys AWMM Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM

Medical notes

Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Private Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!

Death

15 Dec 1944 AWMM
Age  24 AWMM

Cause of death

Died of wounds AWMM

Cemetery

Faenza War Cemetery, Italy AWMM III. F. 3. AWMM

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Whakarewarewa, Te Hokowhitu-a-tu Memorial Gateway, Rotorua AWMM

Related objects

External links

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
  https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2236978
  Sources Used
• Paterson, Lachy. (24 October 2020). The forgotten Maori Battalion. maorihomefront.nz
  https://www.maorihomefront.nz/en/whanau-stories/the-forgotten-maori-battalion/
  Further Reference

References

• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 13: WW2 13
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• Ko te Reo Huringa Tau o te Ope Maori Tuarua, i noho ki Remuera, Ohaeawai, 1942-43: The Anniversary Magazine of the Second Maori Battalion, Remuera, Ohaeawai 1942-1943. Patrick Smyth Papers, MS-2002-147, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
• Nominal Roll of Members of the 2nd Maori Battalion, 26th January 1943. Part of the 2nd Maori Battalion Anniversary Magazine. (MS-2002-147). Auckland War Memorial Museum.