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Cenotaph record

Alan James McLeod

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New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport, Panel 3: Royal New Zealand Navy - Telegraphist, Leading Signalman, Signalmen, Ordinary Signalman, Petty Officers (A), Leading Airmen, Engine Room Artificer Third Class, Engine Room Artificers Fourth Class Brown - McLeod (digital photo John Halpin 2011) - CC BY John Halpin

New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport, Panel 3: Royal New Zealand Navy - Telegraphist, Leading Signa …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Alan James AWMM
  • Surname
    McLeod AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • NZ41 AWMM
    • WWII RN(NZ)41 AWMM
    • WWII RN(NZ)41 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
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

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
    HMS Neptune AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Alan McLeod was the son of James and Olive McLeod (nee O'Hara) of Rosehank, Balclutha, Otago, New Zealand.

      Alan McLeod was one of 132 New Zealand ratings who went missing as a result of the loss of H.M.S. Neptune.

      HMS Neptune was launched at Portsmouth on 31 January 1933. She was one of five 'Leander' class light cruisers completed between 1933 and 1935. Two others were HMS Achilles and Leander serving in the RNZN. They displaced 7,200 tons, could make 32 knots and carried eight 6 inch guns and 550 crew. The Neptune was in the Mediterranean from 1 December 1941 as part of Force K which was searching for Axis shipping, especially those taking supplies to Rommel in North Africa. Early on the 19th the ships of Force K ran into a minefield.The Neptune hit three or four mines and sank with only one survivor. At the same time the Aurora was badly damaged and Penelope slightly.Trying to reach Neptune to assist, the destroyer Kandahar was mined and had to be scuttled the following day. On the same day in Alexandria harbour the Queen Elizabeth with Admiral Cunningham on board and the Valiant were both badly damaged and sank.The Mediterranean Fleet battle squadron ceased to exist. Of the total crew of 766 there was only one survivor.He was rescued off a raft five days later by an Italian destroyer and spent the rest of the war in a prisoner of war camp. AWMM
    • Alan James McLeod is my grandfather.
      His son Alan was born 1 December 1941 to Eileen McNamara.
      Alan James McLeod never got to see his son Alan. Public - Paul - Direct descendant - 6 July 2023 - Family.Eileen McNamara
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    19 December 1941 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    Mediterranean AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport Naval Base, HMNZS Philomel, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Taverner, N. (2003). Neptune's Legacy. Fleet Hargate, England: Arcturus Press. AWMM
      Stand By To Die by A.V. Sellwood (The New English Library 1961) AWMM
    • Record Book of Naval Personnel - c.1920-1945 - Lists Navy number, alphabetical list of names of ratings trained in England, numerical lists of officers. Archives New Zealand, R21346617, AAYT 8495 N12 AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
06 July 2023PaulBirkenhead EnglandDirect descendant

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