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Cenotaph record

Richard Lewis Hutchens

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Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004. Lieutanant-Colonel Richard Lewis Hutchens, Italy - Photograph taken by George Kaye. New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency. Ref: DA-09356-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22799420

Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004. Lieutanant-Colonel Richard Lewis Hutchens, Italy - Photograph tak …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Richard Lewis AWMM
  • Surname
    Hutchens AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • 4865 AWMM
    • 4869 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    26 November 1914 AWMM Hawera, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • Unknown AWMM 10A Central Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
    • Unknown AWMM 10A Central Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mr William Hutchens, 150 Kilmore Street, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
    • Mr William Hutchens, 150 Kilmore Street, Christchurch, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    • Pre 5 January 1940 AWMM Single AWMM
    • Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
      DSO: New Zealand Gazette, 30 April 1946. Citation: "Lieutenant Colonel Hutchens commands 24 New Zealand Battalion which on the night of 27 July 1944 attacked through the bridgehead over the River Pisa and captured the high ground north of the village of Cerbaia. Enemy reaction to this success was strong and throughout the following day they launched strong counterattacks all without success. It was then that the village of San Michelle dominated the positions held by our troops, and before any further progress could be made, it was necessary to capture and occupy this village and the ridge on which it was situated. This attack was planned by Lieutenant Colonel Hutchens and was completely successful. The enemy resisted bitterly, but was forced to give up the position. The following day they made every effort to retake San Michelle. They counterattacked five times and succeeded in getting tanks and some infantry into the village. When it seemed that our troops had been overrun, Lieutenant Colonel Hutchens sent in another company to retake the village. Our infantry had held out however and by first light the following day the position was made firm and the enemy fell back. Lieutenant Colonel Hutchens' personal reconnaissances, his appreciation of the situation, and his clear judgement ensured the success of all these operations. By his courage and cheerfulness, he inspired his men with confidence and the will to hang on. The fighting spirit of his battalion is largely due to his fine leadership." AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Africa Star AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM
    • Defence Medal AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • Legion of Merit (USA) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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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
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Wounded 21 July 1942 AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Commanding Officer (CO) of 27 (Machine-gun) Battalion, 29 February - 8 May 1944

      CO of 26 Infantry Battalion, 8 May 1944 - 8 June 1944

      CO of 24 Infantry Battalion, 8 June 1944 - 12 May 1945

      NZ High Commissioner to Australia, 1950-53

      Secretary for NZ Cabinet, 1955-59

      NZ Ambassador to France and the Netherlands, 1965-69

      NZ High Commissioner to Malaysia, 1969-74

      Serial number recorded as 4865 on the Nominal Rolls. Serial number recorded as 4869 in Haigh and Polaschek (1993) AWMM
    • NZ Commissioner to Singapore 1959 - 1962 Public - Alastair - Child - 11 November 2022 - Family history;
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    • 21 January 1998 AWMM
      Age 83 AWMM
      New Zealand AWMM
    • 21 January 1998 Allan Steel Cemetery Project
      Age 83 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    • Cremated AWMM
    • Puketeraki Cemetery AWMM Block 1, Plot 1 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
    • Haigh, J., Polaschek, A. (Eds.). (1993). New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order. Christchurch, N.Z.: Authors. AWMM
    • Sinclair, D. (1954). 19 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      Military Service Record AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 1: WW2 88 AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 13: WW2 60 AWMM
    • 24 N.Z. Infantry Battalion Association [newsletter]. Auckland, N.Z.: The Association. AWMM
      24th N.Z. Infantry Battalion Association newsletter. March 1998, Issue 121 AWMM
    • Burdon, R. (1959). 24 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Puttick, E. (1960). 25 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Norton, F. (1952). 26 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Kay, R. (1958). 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • This record was partially compiled from data kindly provided by Allan Steel Cemetery Project (2020) AWMM

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
11 November 2022AlastairWellingtonChild

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