condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Francis Albert Aldridge

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

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

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Francis Albert AWMM
  • Surname
    Aldridge AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    35023 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    23 September 1907 AWMM Christchurch, Canterbury AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 29 August 1940 AWMM 23 Konini Street, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Accountant/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs D.E. Aldridge (wife), 23 Konini Street, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
      DSO: NZ Gazette, 30 April 1946. Citation: "Major Aldridge has given long and valuable services under fire in the field. He joined 2 NZEF 29 Aug 1940 with the 14th NZ LAA Regt and sailed as officer in charge 5th Artillery Reinforcements. He first saw action as Bty Capt. 43 Bty and served throughout the 2nd Libya campaign in the gallant actions of Sidi Rezegh and Belhamed, his battery being under command 6th Brigade. 43 Bty in common with the rest of the brigade suffered heavy casualties and Major Aldridge was appointed Bty Commander 42 Bty in the re-organisation. This position he filled without a break and with great distinction until the end of the Tunisian campaign April 1943. He saw action from Minqar Qaim through the defensive Alamein phase when his Bty was credited with over a dozen planes shot down. Alamein offensive, Tripolitania and Tunisia brought additional 'certainties' to his battery and the fighting efficiency and high morale of his unit were only a mirror of this officer's own unassuming efficiency. He was appointed 2ic 6 NZ Field Regt in June 1943 and transferred to 5 NZ Field Regt in the same capacity in July 1944 which position he now holds. He has been in every action the NZ Div has seen in Italy. Through no choice of his own, this officer's service has been largely administrative but all of it served in the field has been served under conditions of personal danger and in the face of enemy fire. In action he is calm, cool, assiduous to duty and his long, valuable services under fire make him an ideal candidate for the honour recommended." AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Africa Star (8th Army clasp) AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM
    • Defence Medal AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Wounded twice (once on 6 January 1943) AWMM

Last known rank

Contribute ›

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
  • Embarkation Unit recorded as 2NZEF, 14th NZLAA Regiment in Distinguished Service Order biography.

    His first rank is recorded as Major in the Nominal Rolls.

    School of Artillery, Middle East, 29 January 1944.

    Returned to NZ, 6 September 1945. AWMM

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    1976 AWMM
    Age 69 AWMM
    Te Puke, Bay of Plenty 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

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Francis Albert Aldridge by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Francis Albert Aldridge

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • Polaschek, A. (1983). The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, N.Z.: Medals Research. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 4: WW2 7 AWMM

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.