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Cenotaph record

Basil Gordon Collyns

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Marlborough War Memorial Second World War Fountain - Image provided by John Halpin 2017, CC BY John Halpin

Marlborough War Memorial Second World War Fountain - Image provided by John Halpin 2017, CC BY John …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Basil Gordon AWMM
  • Surname
    Collyns AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Buck Collyns Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 10 May 2020 - Research
  • Service number
    NZ391368 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 February 1913 AWMM Greymouth, Grey District AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Widow: Mrs. M. L. Collyns of Blenheim AWMM
    • WW2 Mother: Mrs. P. Collyns of Double Bay, Sydney 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
    • No 1 EFTS (Taieri) AWMM
    • No 2 EFTS (New Plymouth) AWMM
    • No 2 FTS (Woodbourne) AWMM
    • No 6 OTU (Sutton Bridge) AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Pilot/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 19 November 1939 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Sheep farmer/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
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Guy Shuckburgh Collyns and Jean Collyns; husband of Margaret Lucy Collyns, of Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand.

    1925-30 Nelson College, Lincoln Agricultural College

    21.6.1941 Shot down BF109

    17.11.1941 Posted to 60 OTU as Instructor

    December 1942 Posted to AFDU (Oxford) as Instructor

    22.6.1942 Shot down by flak, picked up by US Army. Rejoined Squadron.

    20.8.1944 Shot down near Rouvres, France. Buried by local villagers in presence of entire village. German protest due to amount of flowers put on grave. His remains were reinterred after the war.

    Attended Nelson College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845609)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    20 August 1944 AWMM
    Age 31 AWMM
    Rouvres, France AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Villeneuve-St Georges Old Communal Cemetery, Val de Marne, France AWMM Grave 93. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Marlborough War Memorial, Second World War Panel AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember Basil Gordon Collyns by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Basil Gordon Collyns

Leave a note

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  • In loving memory from Margaret and me.
    Public - Jennifer - 11 November 2020
    Report 
  • In loving memory of my Godfather.
    Public - Jennifer Jane - Self - 24 April 2020
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Hanson, C. (2001). By such deeds: honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999. Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 87-90 AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn]. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Co - Dy. Archives New Zealand (R17845609) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743) 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]. Archives New Zealand (R17845747) AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - List of New Zealand Fighter aces with their Scores (Unofficial) December 1944. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845799). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
11 November 2020JenniferAucklandOther
07 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
24 April 2020Jennifer JaneAucklandSelf

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