Thomas England Duncan
Born 24 Feb 1917 - Died 24 Oct 1942
- Service number
- 25841 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Corporal/Military Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 24 Feb 1917 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- Son of Samuel and Mako Duncan, of WharepainaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 22 January 2025 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/thomas-england-duncan
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Reporoa, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs Puke (mother), Reporoa, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Western Desert AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 25841 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
04 Nov 1941 AWMM
London Gazette 4/11/1941 "On the 22 May 1941 this soldier was required to go out and take individual action against two or three parachutists landed in front of position; he accounted for at least two. At Maleme on 23 May 1941 he volunteered to go out and silence an enemy machine-gun post which was giving his company trouble. Single-handed he closed with the post and bombed it, killing nine Germans, capturing the gun and ammunition, which were subsequently used against the enemy." The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Duncan, Thomas England. (Ref. WO 373/27/365). Military Medal. AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Corporal/Military Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Thomas England Duncan was the son of Samuel and Mako Duncan, of Wharepaina, Auckland, New Zealand.
Corporal T. E. Duncan, MM; born NZ 24 Feb 1917; labourer; wounded 23 May 1941; killed in action 24 Oct 1942. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.90.)
'Some of these troops were dropped along the west bank of the Platanias River and beyond effective range but were optimistically fired on by A, B, and C Companies until they were hidden in the ground cover.
A parachute with a load that glistened in the sun floated down about half-way between the enemy and B Company and Private Tommy Duncan13 volunteered to go out and investigate. He stalked the ‘chute and found it contained a canister of weapons, field glasses, and grenades. He was dragging it back when he noticed a party of Germans also bent on retrieving his trophy, which he felt disinclined to part with. He shot two and the others disappeared. This and subsequent exploits won him the Military Medal.' (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p. 90.) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 24 Oct 1942 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
- Whakarewarewa, Te Hokowhitu-a-tu Memorial Gateway, Rotorua AWMM
- Memorial Wall, Reporoa Memorial Hall AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- 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 - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 4 November 1941, p.6359.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35333/supplements/6359
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Duncan, Thomas England. (Ref. WO 373/27/365). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7362875
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2218086
Sources Used - Smith, L. (2025, April 25). Anzac Day in Reporoa to feature unveiling of settler families’ photo wall. Rotorua Daily Post. NZ Herald.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/anzac-day-in-reporoa-to-feature-unveiling-of-settler-families-photo-wall/3UUKSSGWPFA7BPDFLER2SDXAVA/
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 3: WW2 133 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.90, 104, 145, 149. - Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
- Beattie, P.J. and Pomeroy, M.J. (2016). Gallant Acts and Noble Deeds: New Zealand army honours and awards for the Second World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Fair Dinkum Publications.; P.J. Beattie and M.J. Pomeroy, 2016.
p.92 - Wills, A., Shearer, C., Donelley, S., & Willis, A. (2025). Reporoa RSA memorial wall: A community tribute (2nd ed.). Reporoa RSA.
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