Forenames

Leslie Bruce AWMM

Surname

Speedy AWMM

Service number

WWII 64653 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Address before enlistment

6 Portage Road, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs A.J. Speedy (wife), Sylvia Avenue, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 1941 AWMM Married AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWII 64653 AWMM

Military service

Coastwatcher AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
  08 Nov 1945 AWMM
  For exemplary conduct in coast-watching and communication duties in the Gibert Islands area in the face of the enemy, despite overwhelming odds and the knowledge that relief or escape was impossible. AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Slaughterman/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Private AWMM 30 Infantry Battalion AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM

Capture details

WW2

Medical notes

Killed or died while a Prisoner of War, Cause of Death AWMM
Executed by Japanese whilst a prisoner of war AWMM

Last rank

Private AWMM
New Zealand Infantry, 8 Brigade Group, Signals Corps, New Zealand Coastwatchers AWMM

Served as a Coastwatcher on Maiana as part of the Gilbert Group. AWMM

Death

15 Oct 1942 AWMM
Age  40 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed or died while a Prisoner of War AWMM

Memorial name

• Bourail Memorial, Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia AWMM
• Betio Memorial, Tarawa, Kiribati AWMM
• Tarawa Coastwatchers Memorial AWMM
• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Hall, D.O.W. (1950). Coastwatchers. In New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939-1945 : episodes & studies Vol. 2. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch. Digital copy
  http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2Epi-t1-g1-t7.html
  Sources Used
• Gillespie, O. (1952). The Pacific. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy
  http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Paci.html
  Sources Used
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2187467
  Sources Used
• Warren, Geraldine and Pine, Madison. Our Coastwatchers. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 21 April 2020
  https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/coastwatchers
  Further Reference

References

• 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.
  WW2 4: WW2 331
• The New Zealand Herald
  "Tarawa Outrage, Massacre by Japanese", N.Z. Herald, 23 Oct 1944 (copy of article in ACF27569)
• Information kindly provided by family
• Personnel - Medals and decorations - Awards to Pacific Coast watchers (1942-1946), Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R21465310)
• Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.