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Cenotaph record

Arthur Bernard Atkins

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Bernie at home before he left for Eygpt.

Arthur Bernard (Bernie) ATKINS

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Arthur Bernard AWMM
  • Surname
    Atkins AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    14732 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
    6 April 1920 Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 21 July 2018 - Family papers
  • Place of birth
    Gisborne, New Zealand Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 21 July 2018 - Family papers
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    "Rushbrook", Manakau, Horowhenua Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 21 July 2018 - Family papers
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mother Julia Harriet Atkins Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 21 July 2018 - Military personnel file
  • Relationship status
    Pre 1940-1941 AWMM Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    1941 Crete AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    14732 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    • WW2 Private 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.20 Infantry Reinforcements 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.20 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
    • Embarked for Egypt on 19 December 1940 from Wellington with 4th Reinforcements: 2nd Draft. Disembarked 31 Jan 1941. Posted from 33 Canterbury to 20 Canterbury Battalion 28 Feb 1941. Embarked to join Lustre Force March 1941. Reported safe in Crete on 18 May. Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 19 December 2021 - Military Personnel File, Middle East Troopship Convoys 2 NZEF 1939-1945

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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Arthur Atkins was the son of Francis Atkins and Julia Harriett Atkins (new Williams) of Manakau. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    25 May 1941 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
    Crete, Greece AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Suda Bay War Cemetery, Crete, Greece AWMM 6.D.2 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
    Manakau memorial: B Atkins Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 21 July 2018 - Family papers
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Arthur Bernard Atkins by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Arthur Bernard Atkins

Leave a note

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  • Today is the 81st anniversary of Bernie's embarkation from Wellington to the Middle East. Recently I learned that he was mentioned by name in Charles Upham's VC speech: https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/54/charles-upham-discussing-his-1941-victoria-cross-award

    Private Arthur Bernard (Bernie) Atkins was killed on 25 May 1941 in the action to recapture Galatas. He is never forgotten.
    Public - Jacqui - Other relative - 19 December 2021
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
    https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/936522
    Sources Used
  • References
    • 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. AWMM
      p.20 AWMM
    • Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
13 April 2022Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
19 December 2021JacquiWellingtonOther relative
21 July 2018JacquiWellingtonOther relative

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