Second Lieutenant

James Otterson Burnett

Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of James Edmund Maurice Burnett and of Kathleen Burnett (nee Otterson), of Karori, Wellington, New Zealand.

References:
  • CWGC
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

"At half past five on the afternoon of 5 December the SS Chakdina left Tobruk harbour carrying 380 wounded, of whom 97 were New Zealanders. The Chakdina was not a hospital ship, but her use had been arranged by the British ADMS in Tobruk. In addition to the wounded she had on board some officers and men who were going to Baggush to resume duties with HQ 2 NZ Division. Among them were Maj M. Williams, OC 4 Field Hygiene Section, WO I R. W. Cawthorn, and two men of ADMS's staff. Just after nine o'clock an enemy plane released a torpedo, which exploded in one of the after holds of the Chakdina. She sank within three and a half minutes. There was very little chance of escape, except for those who were unwounded or only lightly wounded, and who were in a favourable position at the time. Only 18 of the New Zealand wounded were picked up by the destroyer HMS Farndale, which also rescued all except one of the Divisional Headquarters medical staff. The survivors reached Alexandria on 7 December, and the casualties were admitted to the detachment of 3 NZ General Hospital there. The sinking of the Chakdina was the only major misfortune in the evacuation of New Zealand wounded during the war."

[MEDICAL UNITS OF 2 NZEF IN MIDDLE EAST AND ITALY, NZETC]

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
34082
Name:
James Otterson Burnett
Rank: 
Second Lieutenant
Date of Birth:
Not known
Education: 
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Unit:
New Zealand Artillery, 4 Field Regiment

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Wounded, then lost in HMS Chakdina during evacuation from Tobruk
Date of Death:
05 December 1941
Day of Death:
Friday
Age at Death: 
24
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery: 
Cemetery Reference: 
Column 99.
Cemetery Location: 
Egypt
James Otterson Burnett
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