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Cenotaph record

Douglas Gordon Callender

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Portrait from The Weekly News; 16 July 1941 - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait from The Weekly News; 16 July 1941 - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Douglas Gordon AWMM
  • Surname
    Callender AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Gordon Callender AWMM
  • Service number
    • NZ401721 AWMM
    • WWII 401721 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 January 1917 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • James Royston Callender (father), Box 66, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Callender of Dunedin AWMM
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    • Air Force AWMM
    • Observer Public - John - Researcher - 30 July 2021 - Errol Martyn For your tomorrow Vol 1 page 124
  • Service number
    • NZ401721 AWMM
    • WWII 401721 AWMM
  • Military service
    RNZAF Public - John - Researcher - 30 July 2021 - Errol Martyn For your tomorrow Vol 1 page 124
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    • Levin AWMM
    • Ohakea AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
    Air Observer/Military RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1940 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    Citrus Fruit Grower/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
    Killed on air operations AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Douglas Callender was the son of James Royston Callender, and of Beatrice Fullerton Callender (nee Stuart Forbes), of Auckland, New Zealand.

    Brother Hugh in same squadron bailed out 12 miles on the wrong side of the El Alamein line.

    According to William Callender, his brother, in 1943 at Tewfik a casual British visitor passed around photos including one showing Gordon's grave.

    Three sons, brothers served in WW2: Douglas Gordon Callender (NZ401721) killed; Hugh Callender (RNZAF); and William Stuart Callender (61320).

    Next of kin details compiled from information in the Casualty lists published in the newspapers.

    Attended Waitaki Boys' High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    27 May 1941 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM
    Egypt, North Africa AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt AWMM XII. B. 1. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Death notice: Otago Daily Times AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Waitaki Boys' High School Roll of Honour WWII 1939-45 AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember Douglas Gordon Callender by laying a poppy.

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • The Evening Post AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Otago Daily Times AWMM
      Death notice: Otago Daily Times AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608) - 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. [(New Zealanders Attached to R.A.F. [Royal Air Force]) (Officers), (Europe) - Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845744) AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
30 July 2021JohnPerth WAResearcher

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