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Cenotaph record

Heathcote Huia Butler Beale

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Portrait of Squadron Leader Heathcote Huia Butler Beale, Auckland Weekly News, 18 July 1945. 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19450718-26-1. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Squadron Leader Heathcote Huia Butler Beale, Auckland Weekly News, 18 July 1945. 'Sir Ge …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Heathcote Huia Butler AWMM
  • Surname
    Beale AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ41465 AWMM
    • WWII 41465 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    10 September 1916 AWMM Waipiro Bay, Gisborne AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
    Son of Arthur Merritt Beale, and of Emma Reremoana Beale, of Te Puia Springs. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/heathcote-huia-butler-beale
  • Address before enlistment
    Te Puia Springs, East Coast Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/heathcote-huia-butler-beale
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mrs Emma R. Williams (mother), Puketiki Station, Te Puia Springs, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs A. B. Williams, Puketiti, Te Puia Springs, East Coast AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Jan 1941 AWMM Shepherd/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
    • WW2
      1944 AWMM
      On an operation to Budapest AWMM
    • WW2 POW - Unknown Prisoner of War Camp POW Deaths (R25405152)
      Middle East AWMM
    • WW2 POW - Germany POW section 8 Air Forces, p.77
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
    WW2 Died whilst a POW AWMM
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    • Killed or died while a Prisoner of War, Cause of Death AWMM
      Died while prisoner of war AWMM
    • 4 August 1944 AWMMOther, WWII AWMM
      Died of injuries, shot down. AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of Arthur Merritt Beale and Emma R. Beale of Te Puia Springs.

      Joined the RAF in January 1941

      Squadron Leader Beale was a prisoner of war, although the place and dates are unknown.

      Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers.

      Attended Christs College, Christchurch (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
    • DESERT AERODROME, EGYPT - Sept 1942 - Flight-Lieutenant H. H. Beale, of Gisborne, has undertaken more than 40 operational flights over Egypt since March. Twenty of these flights he made with Flight-Lieutenant Neil Blundell, of Wellington, as navigator. Flt-Lt Beale is now proceeding to a training school for a term as instructor. He has two brothers in the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and has been fortunate enough to meet them several times since their arrival in this country from England in February Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - New Zealand Herald, 30 September 1942
    • From my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998):


      Mon 3/Tue 4 Apr 1944
      MEDITERRANEAN ALLIED AIR FORCES
      Raid on the Manfred Weiss works at Budapest, Hungary (by 87 aircraft - 5 lost)
      37 Squadron, RAF (Tortorella [Foggia No 2], Italy - 231 Wing, 205 Group, Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force)
      Wellington X LN853 - took off at 2043 and shot down by a night-fighter over Hungary, crashing on the farm of Bukajlo Tanja of Rac Almas, about 3km north of Duna Pentele (at position 4700N:1856E), at 2330. Three of the crew died in the crash, their bodies being buried at Duna Pentele, but later reinterred in Budapest. Their three comrades baled out and were taken prisoner, the RAF second pilot and the wireless operator being unhurt. However, the captain, retrieved from the River Danube in which he had landed, was found to be critically injured with a broken back. He was transported south some 250km to the German Military Hospital in Semlin (aka Zemun), 6km WNW of Belgrade, where he died on the 8th. Although a Catholic priest later stated he had buried the airman in the civilian cemetery at Semlin, after hostilities it proved impossible to find the unmarked grave. The captain’s name is therefore commemorated on the Malta Memorial.
      Captain: NZ41465 Sqn Ldr Heathcote Huia Butler BEALE, DFC*, RNZAF - Age 27. 920hrs. 65th op.
      Beale was well into his second tour, his first, also in the Mediterranean theatre, being flown with 104 Sqn, RAF. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 13 December 2018 - Information Credit : Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    4 April 1944 AWMM
    Age 28 AWMM
    Mediterranean AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed or died while a Prisoner of War AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    • Sqd/Ldr. H. H. Beale, D.F.C. and bar, of Te Puia Springs, died while prisoner of war. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - Auckland Weekly News
    • MISSING ON AIR IOPERATIONS
      Squadron-Leader H. H. B. Beale, D F.C. and bar, is the son of Mrs. A. B. Williams, Te Puia Springs, and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force when on the point of taking up farming on his own account. He was born at Waipiro Bay, and was educated at Hereworth, Hawke’s Bay, and Christ’s College, Christchurch, later gaining experience in farming on the East Coast and in Hawke’s Bay. He received his wings in New Zealand, and later proceeded to England, whence he was transferred to the Middle East on bombing operations. He was regarded as an outstanding aircraft captain, and raised the standard of bombing efficiency in his first squadron noticeably. Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 22 June 2023 - GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXXI, ISSUE 21408, 19 MAY 1944, PAGE 4
  • Memorial name
    Tokomaru Bay War Memorial
    Tokomaru Bay Memorial Gates
    Gisborne's War Memorial Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 4 January 2016 - Research
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Deaths While Prisoner of War - Navy, Army, Air Force and Civilians [WW2 NZ POW Deaths], Archives New Zealand, Wellington, AAAA 7393 Box 1 (R25405152). 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 Killed - Officers (Canada, Pacific, Europe) - Airmen (Canada, India and Far East)]. Archives New Zealand (R17845748) AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM
    • War Office. (1945). Germany and German occupied territories : imperial prisoners of war alphabetical list : section 8 : Air Forces. London, U.K.: Government Printer. AWMM
      p.77 AWMM
    • henry neil blundell photos malta 42 harry beale Public - michael neil - 31 July 2016 - my father h n blundell

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
22 June 2023Lorraine Mona Gisborne Researcher
18 December 2019KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher
13 December 2018JeniferWairarapaResearcher
31 July 2016michael neilnew zealand Other
04 January 2016Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher

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