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Cenotaph record

John Sinclair Priestley

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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
    John Sinclair AWMM
  • Surname
    Priestley AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ39934 AWMM
    • WWII 39934 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    15 August 1913 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Parents: Mr. & Mrs. J, Priestley of Wellington 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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  • Military training
    • Ground Training School, Weraroa AWMM
    • No. 1 EFTS, Taieri AWMM
    • No. 1 FTS, Wigram AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 26 October 1939 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
    Clerk 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 on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Josiah Oswald and Margaret Moore Priestley, of Plimmerton, Wellington, New Zealand.

    In August 1940 Priestley joined 235 Squadron which, although a Coastal Command Squadron, was flying in support of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. He flew his first operational sortie on the 22nd August.

    Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940

    Brother to James Thomas Priestley, born 1904.

    Attended Wellington College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845614)) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    30 August 1940 AWMM
    Age 27 AWMM
    Bircham Newton, England AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    • Killed on Active Service AWMM
    • Killed in Flying Accident Public - Andrew - Researcher - 9 July 2015 - No. 235 Squadron Unofficial Diary 1940 - August
      Research for book entitled Coastal Dawn
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Great Bircham (St Mary) Churchyard, Norfolk, England AWMM Plot 1. Row 1. Grave 9. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Per Press Association:

    Wellington This Day.
    Pilot- Officer John Sinclair Priestley lost his life as a result of air operations on August 30, according to advice recieved by his parents, Mr and Mrs J.O. Priestley, 184 Glenmore Street, Kelburn. He was their elder son.

    Priestley, who was aged twenty-six, recieved his training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and arrived in England only three months ago. He represented Wellington College at Rugby and rifle shooting. On leaving college he joined the electrical engineering firm of Vickery and Co. As a lad he was a keen scout and achieved the honour of becoming a King's Scout. AWMM
  • 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
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 324-325 AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books. AWMM
    • Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn]. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Na - Py. Archives New Zealand (R17845614) - 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 Killed - Officers (Canada, Pacific, Europe) - Airmen (Canada, India and Far East)]. Archives New Zealand (R17845748) AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
09 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
09 July 2015AndrewGreat BritainResearcher

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