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Victor Michael Preston

Identity

  • Title
  • Forenames
    Victor Michael AWMM
  • Surname
    Preston AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    37596 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 175 Kaikourai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs G. Preston (mother), 175 Kaikourai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
    Western Desert AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    37596 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

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

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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  • Victor Preston was the son of Herbert Henry and Gladys Victoria Preston, of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. AWMM

Death

About death

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  • Death
    5 December 1941 AWMM
    Age 22 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember Victor Michael Preston by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Victor Michael Preston

Leave a note

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  • We never forget Vic and how brave he was. He was sadly missed by his sister VIcky. Please could Shirley who sent a message in 2017 contact me as we would love to know more about her relationship with Vic.
    Public - Carol - Other relative - 25 April 2023
    Report 
  • i would really like Shirley who contributed in 2017 to contact me as we have always wondered about her conection with Vic. Thanks
    Public - Carol - 25 April 2022
    Report 
  • I am entering this information on behalf of my husband who is Vic's nephew. My mother-in-law was Vic's sister and she always worshiped his memory. She showed us the extract from the newspaper that told of his brave and daring exploits on his motorcycle crossing over the firing lines to get messages through and his tragic death on board the hospital ship coming home to heal from his wounds. We do not know who you are Shirley or from where in the family tree you are situated so if you would like to contact me we would love to chat. One of my brother-in-laws shares his second name of Michael and the other has Victor in his. We named our son Michael also. He was very brave and we are all very proud of him as was his sister. Her name was Catherine Victoria and went by the name of Vicky.
    Public - Carol - Other relative - 11 April 2019
    Report 
  • Long have I searched for you, Vic. You died 6years before I was born. Your mother was my Great Aunt, a very much loved part of my family. My mother told me stories of you and your going to war - of how you were shot from your motor-bike and wounded; of how you were evacuated and then died when your ship was torpedoed. I also have the bracelet and the handbag you sent to your mother. All these years I have treasured them, and I will hand them on to my nieces and nephews together with the stories, just as they were handed to me. How dearly your mother loved you, and how painful for her was your death, but Vic, you are not forgotten, never forgotten. You died too young, and I cannot know what your final days were like. But I hold you in my heart. May the Peace in which you have dwelt all these years continue to hold you close.
    Public - Shirley - Other relative - 23 July 2017
    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/2123960
    Sources Used
  • References
    • Kay, R. (1958). 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • 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 386 AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
25 April 2023CarolDunedinOther relative
23 July 2017ShirleyAuckland, New ZealandOther relative

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