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Cenotaph record

John Seabrook

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Portrait of Captain John Seabrook, Archives New Zealand, AALZ 25044 3 / F1446 61. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Captain John Seabrook, Archives New Zealand, AALZ 25044 3 / F1446 61. Image is subject t …

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John AWMM
  • Surname
    Seabrook AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Jack AWMM
    • Yik AWMM
  • Service number
    WWII NZ1081 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    6 January 1896 AWMM Oakland, California AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 Albert David and Marion May Seabrook of 'Dreamwood Park', New Lynn, Auckland AWMM
  • 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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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

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • John Seabrook was the eldest son of Albert David and Marion May Seabrook of 'Dreamwood Park', New Lynn, Auckland. Brother of Philip Seabrook.

      Husband of Doreen Mary Alexa nee Carr.

      He was educated at Avondale School and Auckland Grammar School in Lower Symonds Street.

      Served with Royal Flying Corps in France, 1916-17.

      Served with Royal Air Force in Middle East, 1918.

      Founded J Seabrook & Co. in 1919

      In 1927 he married Doreen M. Carr, daughter of C.E. Carr

      He was the winner of the first New Zealand aerial Derby in 1929. He was a member of the founding committee of the Auckland Aero Club from 1929. He served first as club captain, then as vice chairman and then vice president.

      Between the wars, Seabrook served as Officer Commanding (OC) of the RNZAF Auckland Squadron.

      He commanded the RNZAF Station, Whenuapai, 1940-41 and RNZAF Station, Hobsonville, 1942.

      Appointed Air Attache, Washington, DC and subsequently head of New Zealand Air Mission in Washington from 1942-43.

      His business interests included being chairman of Austin Distributors Federation (NZ) Ltd and Associated Motor Industries Ltd, Petone, from 1950-1959;

      Director, New Zealand Airways Corporation from 1952-1961;President of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Council from 1961-1963; Deputy chairman of the Blinded Servicemen's Trust Board; and he was also a member of both the Nature Conservation Council, Wellington and the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park Board.

      He served on the Board of Trustees of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind for 24 years.

      AWMM The Auckland War Memorial Museum Scars on the Heart 1 Gallery contains a photo of Captain John Seabrook standing in front of his BE C2 aircraft in the "Flying Aces" display.

      "We wish to express the Institute and Museum’s appreciation of the service over many years of Mr John Seabrook, who did not offer himself for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Mr Seabrook was active in the fund-raising for the erection of the War Memorial Museum after World War I, and served as a member of the Auckland War Memorial Committee, and as Building Committee Chairman, to raise funds for the additions to the building to commemorate the dead of World War II: he was also Chairman of the Citizens’ Committee to raise funds for the Auditorium in 1969. He was appointed to Council in March 1956, and served continuously as a Council member for 23 years; he was President from 1960 to 1964 and subsequently Vice-President. He was Chairman of the Finance Committee throughout his Presidency, and the passing of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Maintenance Act 1963 was a personal triumph for Mr Seabrook, whose leadership and efforts in approaching Local Authorities had contributed greatly towards the support necessary for the success of the Bill. He was appointed to the Trust Board in 1963 a position he still holds, and was elected an Honorary Life Member in 1964." Auckland Museum Annual Report, 1979–1980, p.11. AWMM
    • Correction: John's wife's name (my grandmother) was Doreen Mary Alexina Seabrook nee Carr
      His business interests include forming the Seabrook Fowlds motor vehicle partnership in 1920 with Bill Fowlds and his younger brother Philip Seabrook joined them as an equal partner in 1922. This partnership continued until 1970. Public - Amanda Mary - Direct descendant - 20 September 2024 - Family Oral. I am his grandaughter.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    8 January 1985 AWMM
    Age 89 AWMM
    Remuera, Auckland AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Purewa Cemetery and Crematorium, Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Block J Row 5 Plot 96 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Obituary: New Zealand Herald, 10 January 1985 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    New Lynn RSA, 2 Veronica Street, New Lynn 0600 AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
20 September 2024Amanda MaryChristchurchDirect descendant

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