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Cenotaph record

John Oliver Comer

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Wreath, 1999, laid by the Greek Community on the Cenotaph in Auckland and later moved to the Hall of Memories, Auckland War Memorial Museum on Anzac Day 1999 in memory of those who died in Greece. - This image may be subject to copyright

Wreath, 1999, laid by the Greek Community on the Cenotaph in Auckland and later moved to the Hall of …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Oliver AWMM
  • Surname
    Comer AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    36664 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
    Unknown AWMM 80 Sandes Street, Thames, Coromandel, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs M.J. Comer (mother), 80 Sandes Street, Thames, Coromandel, 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
    Greece AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    36664 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • John Comer was the son of William John Rowe Witheridge Comer and Mary Jane Comer, of Thames, New Zealand. AWMM
    • he was born 21,12.1914 in Thames Public - jennifer - Other Relative - 7 March 2015 - family papers and the family tree. info supplied by family members.
    • Ollie was the 11th child of 15. His brother Robert served with Ollie, fortunately Bob returned home. Public - Sharleen Marie - Other Relative - 23 April 2015 - Oral family history. We also have a embroidery that Ollie & Bob did the Christmas before Ollie died while they were overseas serving our country
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    20 April 1941 AWMM
    Age 27 AWMM
    Greece, Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed on Active Service AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, Greece AWMM 8. C. 5. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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  • A record of when Pte Oliver Comer met his death can be found at: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-27Ba-c4.html
    Public - Joanne Debra - Other relative - 25 April 2017
    Report 
  • Great Uncle Ollie was my mother's (Valda) uncle and my grandmother's (Annie Melba (Melba)) brother. He was spoken of with love and sadness within our family.
    Public - Joanne Debra (Jo) - Other relative - 21 April 2017
    Report 
  • I am the nephew of Ollie, my mother was Pearl Comer his sister, 3rd youngest of 15 siblings. The youngest sister Nita is still well and living in Thames. I also think there were 3 others, Bob,William and Hector Comer that fought in wars. Because of ANZAC we have just started to explore their actions. We are holding some medals from WW2 but are not sure who they belong to. I have heard stories over the years from my mother but never met Uncle Oliver as he passed away at a young age.
    Public - Verdon - Other Relative - 24 April 2015
    Report 
  • Dearly loved brother of my great aunt Nita ( alive and well in Thames) we always remember Ollie as he is the namesake of my father Oliver James Comer, my father was born the day Ollie was killed in action.
    Public - Sharleen Marie - Other Relative - 23 April 2015
    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/2931964
    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
      WW2 3: WW2 95 AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1958). 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 April 2017Joanne DebraAuckland New ZealandOther relative
21 April 2017Joanne Debra (Jo)Auckland New ZealandOther relative
24 April 2015VerdonTe Atatu South , AucklandOther Relative
23 April 2015Sharleen Marie HamiltonOther Relative
07 March 2015jenniferte ArohaOther Relative

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