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Cenotaph record

Thomas Barry Brierley

Lay a poppy
Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright
Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyrig … Read more

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Thomas Barry AWMM
  • Surname
    Brierley AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Barry AWMM
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ417009 AWMM
    • WWII 417009 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Roland Brierley (father), 1A Apuka Street, Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Europe (Air) AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Air Force AWMM
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ417009 AWMM
    • WWII 417009 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards

Training and Enlistment

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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
    Killed on air operations AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Eldest son of Roland and Rene Brierley. Brother of Lee.

      Known as Barry. Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers. AWMM
    • Served 190 Squadron RAF.

      Killed in action on the first day of the Battle for Arnhem - Netherlands - during 'Operation Market Garden' - the attempted allied invasion of the Netherlands.

      2nd Pilot of Stirling Bomber Mark IV L982.

      Leading the squadron formation Stirling L982 had towed a glider of the British 1st Airborne to the drop zone over Arnhem, and after dropping supplies was turning away to climb when it was attacked by German fighters.

      The Stirling Bomber was shot down and all crew aboard were killed - including 2nd Pilot Warrant Officer Thomas (known as Barry) Brierley of Wellington, New Zealand. Also killed was fellow New Zealander Warrant officer Donald M. Mathewson RNZAF 421331.

      The wife of the pilot later wrote to Mathewson's widow in New Zealand and said
      “I actually met two airborne men who were taken prisoners at the bridge and watched our Stirling come in, leading. They said it was the bravest thing they ever saw in the war”. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 23 September 2019 - Reference : www.aircrewremembered.com and RNZAF Museum.
    • Words of Sergeant Jock Walker - of the British Army Film & Photographic Unit - who was on the ground at Arnhem September 1944 :

      "The RAF supply planes and their dispatchers (on board personnel who threw supply canisters from the aircraft to the forces on the ground below) were giants amongst brave men; whenever they came over with supplies (which unfortunately usually fell to the enemy) all the fury of the enemy (German) was directed against them (RAF aircraft) - but steadfastly they flew straight and level through the most fearful 'flak' (anti aircraft fire) - the (aircraft) dispatchers at the (aircraft) doors chucking out the containers - even when repeatedly hit and set on fire; flying on, blazing torches in the sky, until they eventually crashed in flames. What devotion to duty and so sorrowful to watch. There was not a man on the ground that was not moved by this display of courage - and in the main with no benefit to us". Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 7 October 2019 - Reference : www.aircrewremembered.com (England). Profile of RAF 190 Squadron Stirling IV LJ982 L9-N - of which 2nd Pilot Thomas (Barry) Brierley, of Wellington, New Zealand was a member of the air crew.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    21 September 1944 AWMM
    Age 21 AWMM
    The Netherlands (Holland), Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands AWMM 4. D. 15. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Thomas Barry Brierley by laying a poppy.

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Leave a tribute or memory of Thomas Barry Brierley

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  • On saturday 14 September 2019 I will run the Airborne Freedom Trailin Arnhem, the Netherlands. Commemorating 75 Years Liberation of the Netherlands. I will lay my remembrance cross with poppy on the grave of Thomas Barry Brieley and Donald Meldrum Mathewson in honour of these heroes. New Zealand has a special place in our hearts.
    Public - Gaston - 14 September 2019
    Report

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
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DateNameLocationRelationshipContact
23 September 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher
14 September 2019Gaston The NetherlandsOther
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