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Cenotaph record

Richard John De Mansfield Absolon

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Richard 'Dickie' Absolon (right) on board SS Canberra with friends. Image kindly provided by James O'Connell (April 2022).

Richard 'Dickie' Absolon (right) on board SS Canberra with friends. Image kindly provided by James O …

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Richard John De Mansfield AWMM
  • Surname
    Absolon AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    24557055 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    13 July 1962 AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 1980 AWMM Palmerston North, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Major John De Mansfield Absolon (father), Palmerston North, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    Falklands Private AWMM

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
    Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Richard Absolon was the son of John de Mansfield Absolon. He went to Palmerston North Boys High School.

      Richard was the only New Zealander to die in the Falklands war.

      Monies raised in the Memorial Fund were to go to the Palmerston North Boys High School. AWMM
    • II AM ORIGINALLY A SCOT, WHO CAME TO N Z IN 1967/8, LIVING UNTIL 2005 IN PALMERSTON NORTH. IN LAST 10 YRS, I HAVE RETIRED TO NEW PLYMOUTH. ON A DAY EXPLORING MY NEW CITY, I WAS IN ST MARY'S CHURCHYARD, NOW KNOWN AS TARANAKI CATHEDRAL. THERE, BEHIND THE CHURCH, LIES A MEMORIAL STONE TO THIS BRAVE YOUNG MAN, WHO'S LIFE ENDED IN BATTLE. THE STONE APPEARS WITH THE NAME OF MAJOR JOHN ABSALOM. WHO I BELIEVE WAS KNOWN TO ME IN MID 1980s. GOD REST THIS YOUNG MAN. Public - harry - 14 May 2022 - MEMORIAL STONE IN TARANAKI CATHEDRAL, WHICH I PHOTOGRAPHED.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    13 June 1982 AWMM
    Age 19 AWMM
    Stanley, Falkland Islands AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died of wounds AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire, England AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Memorial Cross to the 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 11-13 June 1982, Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands AWMM
    • Family memorial, St Mary's Anglican Church, 37 Vivian Street, New Plymouth AWMM
    • Linton Camp, Roll of Honour AWMM
    • Memorial Fund, Palmerston North Boys High School, Palmerston North AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Richard John De Mansfield Absolon

Leave a note

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  • In loving memory Richard. Dead but not forgotten. Rest in peace young warrior.
    Public - John - Other relative - 23 November 2017
    Report 
  • Dick I still remember that day in 1982, you were just behind me when you were hit and I will never forget you old friend. Zip Hunt
    Public - Mark - Comrade - 11 November 2016
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  • Remembering you today dear cousin
    Public - Kathryn - Other relative - 8 November 2015
    Report 
  • Thinking of you Dick on Remberance Sunday. Zip Hunt 3 Para
    Public - Mark - Comrade - 6 November 2015
    Report 
  • A memorial stone to Pte Richard John de Mansfield Absolon MM, was laid in the grounds of St Mary's Anglican Cathedral, New Plymouth. A service and a turn out of representatives from the British Airborne Forces Associations, RNZRSA, Parachute Regiment and New Zealand Military were in attendance to give the occasion full honours. http://bafnz.webs.com/
    Public - John - Friend - 24 July 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
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Next page
14 May 2022harryNEW PLYMOUTH, NEW ZEALANDOther
18 December 2021..Other
06 January 2018JamesBootleComrade
23 November 2017JohnAustraliaOther relative
11 November 2016Mark Leicester, EnglandComrade

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