BOURAIL MEMORIAL
HISTORY INFORMATION
The island of New Caledonia was annexed by France in 1854. In 1942 the Allies used the island as a training ground for jungle and island warfare, and it was here that New Zealand forces prepared for the Solomon Islands campaign. The Headquarters of the South Pacific Command was established at Noumea, the capital, which became the principal United States base for the campaign and the largest forward Allied military and supply base in the South Pacific. No.4 General Hospital was set up in Dumbea Valley, nearly 25 kilometres from Noumea.
Bourail, on the west coast of the island, was the Headquarters of the 3rd New Zealand Division, which began to arrive in New Caledonia towards the end of 1942. Brigade Headquarters and staging camps were disposed along the main arterial road on the western side of the island, where the principal defences were concentrated and where airfields were built to link the island with the battle zone and the bases in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and other places in the Pacific.
The memorial commemorates 449 members of the New Zealand Land and Air Forces and Merchant Navy, and members of the Western Pacific Local Forces who died during operations in the South Pacific area, and who have no known grave.
The men of the Fiji Military Forces who died in this campaign and whose graves could not be located or maintained, are commemorated on the Suva Memorial at Fiji.
-
SURNAME
Ellis
FORENAME
Raymond Arthur
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64382
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
30
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
husband of J.A. Ellis,39 Dignan Street,Point...
-
SURNAME
Jones
FORENAME
Reginald
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64485
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
42
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Alfred and Mary (nee McMahon) Jones,Auckland...
-
SURNAME
Hearn
FORENAME
Henry Rexton Cropper
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
297286
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
21
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Henry Charles Gordon and Alma Stella...
-
SURNAME
McCarthy
FORENAME
John Joseph
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
436897
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of John Joseph and Nancy McCarthy,Point...
-
SURNAME
Hitchon
FORENAME
Robert Irwin
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64882
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
28
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Robert and Sarah Ann...
-
SURNAME
Howe
FORENAME
Dallas Hillman
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64056
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
32
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Clarence John (1878-1939) and Sarah Alice...
-
SURNAME
McKenzie
FORENAME
Roderick Murdoch
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64022
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
32
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Roderick Hector and Catherine Jessie...
-
SURNAME
Parker
FORENAME
Wilfred Athol Rolf
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64005
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
27
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Frank William and Jessie...
-
SURNAME
Pearsall
FORENAME
Clifford Arnold
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
84237
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Lewis and Jane (nee Dalziel)...
-
SURNAME
Murray
FORENAME
Thomas Colin
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
260451
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
21
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Thomas and Ethel Livingston Murray,Picton,Marlborough,New...
-
SURNAME
Taylor
FORENAME
Allan Leicester
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Lieutenant
NUMBER
297352
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of William Charles and Caroline (nee Hay)...
-
SURNAME
Nichol
FORENAME
John Hugh
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64062
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
26
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of William and Maud Alice (nee Hobbs) Nichol,Te...
-
SURNAME
Kilpin
FORENAME
Claude Andrew
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64057
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
33
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 06.01.1909, Midhurst, Taranaki, New Zealand...
-
SURNAME
McKenna
FORENAME
Arthur Ernest
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
408026
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
son of Arthur and Florence McKenna
nephew of Mrs L.A...
-
SURNAME
Owen
FORENAME
Charles James
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64606
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
40
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
of 27 Carlton Gore Road,Auckland,New Zealand
son of...
-
SURNAME
Speedy
FORENAME
Leslie Bruce
UNIT
New Zealand Infantry (30 Bn)/Coastwatcher
RANK
Private
NUMBER
64653
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
40
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 1902, Featherston, New Zealand
husband of Ada...
-
SURNAME
Heenan
FORENAME
Arthur Clarence
UNIT
New Zealand Coastwatchers
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
148324
DATE OF DEATH
15th October 1942
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 26.9.1920 Middlemarch,Otago,New Zealand
son of Edward...
-
SURNAME
Conn
FORENAME
William George
UNIT
New Zealand Commandos
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
67874
DATE OF DEATH
13th July 1943
AGE
25
GRAVESITE
Bourail Memorial,New Caledonia Panel 1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 24.3.1918 Gisborne,New Zealand
son of Charles Edwin and Catherine...