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Cenotaph record

Malcolm Alexander Bruford Harsant

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Group airmen: L to R: M.A. Harsant, W.A. Trolove and F.H. Brown. (from National Archives, Wellington -Reference AIR 118/64, Vol 8 No 31 Squadron - Gisborne, Photo 3171). - This image may be subject to copyright

Group airmen: L to R: M.A. Harsant, W.A. Trolove and F.H. Brown. (from National Archives, Wellington …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Malcolm Alexander Bruford AWMM
  • Surname
    Harsant AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ422066 AWMM
    • WWII 422066 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1 March 1917 AWMM Raglan, Waikato AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre Mar 1942 AWMM C/o L. Mason, Mail Contractor, Cambridge, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mrs Joy Doreen Harsant (wife), Cambridge, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Wife: Mrs. I. D. Harsant. c/o P. B. Holmes, Onehunga Rd, Cambridge AWMM
    • WW2 Mr. & Mrs. R. M. Harsant of Raglan 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
    • Entered airforce at Rongotai - March 1942 AWMM
    • Empire Flying Scheme, Canada - May - Oct 1943 - No 7 Air Observers School, Portage, Le Prairie, Manitoba. Gained Air Observers Badge. AWMM
    • Returned to NZ and joined 31 Squadron where he underwent two more months training. AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Mar 1942 AWMM
    Age 25 AWMM
    Herd Tester/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

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
    • Height, Unknown Period AWMM
      5 feet 9.25 inches AWMM
    • Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
      Killed on air operations - shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Malcolm Harsant was the son of Reginald Martin Harsant and Martha Caroline (Queenie) Harsant, nee Bruford.

    He married on 11 July 1942 to Joy Doreen Holmes. They had one daughter Sandra Mary Harsant.

    He was educated at Te Uku District School where his favourite sport was rugby.

    Promoted to Flight Sergeant 29 April 1944.

    Left NZ May 1944 for Bougainville.

    Flight Sergeant Harsant was the navigator on an Avenger which was part of a strike against the Talili Bay Supply area, near Rabaul. His plane was hit by flak after the bombing and was seen to crash near the target area. No trace of the three crew was ever found.

    Two other New Zealanders died in the same action: Flight Sergeant Trolove and Flight Sergeant Brown.

    Attended Te Uku District School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845611)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    31 May 1944 AWMM
    Age 27 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Bourail Memorial, Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
    • Cambridge Cenotaph, Victoria St, Cambridge 3434 AWMM
    • Cambridge World War Two War Memorials AWMM
    • Te Uku and District Roll of Active Service 1939-1945 Public - Elli - Researcher - 29 August 2020 - Te Uku Memorial Hall (Waikato) (photo of Roll)

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The Weekly News AWMM
      The Weekly News 1944 AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
      (copy) on file at Auckland War Memorial Museum AWMM
    • This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission. AWMM
    • Baigent, Claude Hern. Papers relating to war service, 1943-1944. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2006/28. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ha - Hy. Archives New Zealand (R17845611) - 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. [Missing believed killed - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845746) 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

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
29 August 2020ElliWellington, NZResearcher
27 December 2019KelvinNorfolk, EnglandResearcher

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