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Cenotaph record

Henare Whakatau Uru

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  • Service number
    • WWII NZ39589 AWMM
    • WWII 39589 AWMM
  • Also known as
    Kay Public - Nicola Adrienne (Nikora Ariana) - Other relative - 14 December 2018 - His oldest sister is my grandmother (Catherine Eileen Cocks nee Uru, also known as Kata) and I grew up knowing him as Uncle Kay. His photograph sat on the fireplace.
  • Armed force / branch
    Air Force AWMM
  • Last rank
    WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM
    Royal Air Force, No. 299 Squadron AWMM
  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
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Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Henare Whakatau AWMM
  • Surname
    Uru AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Kay Public - Nicola Adrienne (Nikora Ariana) - Other relative - 14 December 2018 - His oldest sister is my grandmother (Catherine Eileen Cocks nee Uru, also known as Kata) and I grew up knowing him as Uncle Kay. His photograph sat on the fireplace.
  • Service number
    • WWII NZ39589 AWMM
    • WWII 39589 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    21 February 1921 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Oxford, Canterbury AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mother: Mrs G. C. M. Uru of Christchurch AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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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
    6 August 1944 AWMMKilled in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Henare Uru was the son of Henare Whakatau Uru and of Gladys Constance May Uru (nee Rogers), of Christchurch, New Zealand.

      Attended West Christchurch High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845617)) AWMM
    • Reason for Aircraft/crew loss :

      5/6 August 1944.
      Operation Code-Name : Special Operations 'Ian 7'
      RAF Unit : 299 (Special Operations) Squadron, 38 Group.
      RAF Base : Keevil, Wiltshire, England.
      Aircraft type and Call Signs: Short Stirling IV LJ878 5G-T.

      3 Short Stirling aircraft - from 299 (Special Operations) Squadron - based at RAF Base Keevil, Wiltshire, England - were detailed to drop several containers of equipment to the French Special Air Service - and the French Resistance - in the Baden area of France.
      Stirling LJ878 - piloted by New Zealander Pilot Officer Henare Uru - left RAF Base Keevil, Wiltshire, England - at 23:00 hours. Two other Stirlings - on the same mission also left RAF Base Keevil - one at 23:38 hours (piloted Flight Lieutenant Taylor) and 22:44 hours (Pilot Officer Tevell).
      On arrival over the drop zone at France LJ878 was circling the area looking for the rendezvous lights (signal lights from French Resistance fighters on the ground) - when LJ878 was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. LJ878 was badly damaged and crashed into the Village of Plougoumelen - killing all 6 Allied air-men aboard - as well as 3 French civilians on the ground.
      In 1945 the full facts - of the loss of LJ878 and her 6 air-crew - were discovered by the No 1 Missing Research Enquiry Unit - and the findings were sent to the relatives of the crew.
      Over 1,000 local French inhabitants, of Plougoumelen, attended the funeral of the 6 Allied air-men, a full service was provided and all the 6 coffins were covered in flowers.

      The 6 crew of Stirling LJ878 were -
      1. Pilot Officer Henare W. Uru - RNZAF NZ/39589 (aged 23 years - killed).
      2. Navigator Robert J. Braddock - RNZAF NZ416081 (aged 26 years - killed).
      3. Flight Engineer Alfred A. Hull RAF (England) RAF # 1588979 (aged 20 years - killed).
      4. Air Bombdr Flight Sergeant Leonard A. Eunson RAAF (Australia) # 410536 (aged 24 years - killed).
      5. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Pilot Officer Walter N. Irving RCAF (Canada) # J/87928 (aged 26 years - killed).
      6. Air Gunner/Warrant Officer Gordon F. Harrison RCAF (Canada) # R/112810 (aged 24 years - killed). Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 12 June 2019 - Reference : www.aircrewremembered.com (England) : Stirling IV LJ878 5G-T/Uru Henare W.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    6 August 1944 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Plougoumelen Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France AWMM Coll. grave. 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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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. 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
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ue - Z. Archives New Zealand (R17845617) - 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. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745) AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
12 June 2019JeniferWairarapaResearcher
14 December 2018Nicola Adrienne (Nikora Ariana)New ZealandOther relative
11 May 2017Bernard FranceOther

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