Private

William Gordon (Bill) Bain

Secondary Memorial: 
Auckland War Memorial Museum
Conflict: 
WW2
Additional Information: 

Son of Athol Bain and of Millicent Bain (nee Frew), of Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand.

References:
  • CWGC
Relatives Who Are Also Casualties:
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

Private William Gordon BAIN SUDA BAY Cemetery, Crete
Dennis Kerins writes: “It was from a request from an elderly woman for a picture of Bill’s grave that the concept of the New Zealand War Graves Project was born. Joyce Crane was engaged to my Uncle Bill and, although happily married, 'thought of him every day since his death.' It took a few years actually to get the photograph, via a friend Diane Snow, but Joyce had her wish fulfilled before she died.
“Bill was born in Wellington on 1 August, 1917 the son of Athol Douglas Bain and Millicent Bain (nee Frew). He attended Petone Primary School but later shifted schools when placed in a Wellington boys’ orphanage following the death of his mother. His two sisters were also placed in an orphanage. In the late 1930s he shifted to Auckland with his father and was employed as a timber worker with the Kauri Timber Company, Papatoetoe. He enlisted on 3 October, 1939 and embarked for Egypt on 5 January, 1940, arriving on 13 February, 1940. He served with the 18th Battalion in Greece and was evacuated to Crete (reported safe in Crete 18 May, 1941).
“According to information received by my mother (Bill’s sister) he was killed by a mortar bomb at Galatas on 25 May, 1941 and 'was buried by his mates on the spot.' His official date of death is 2 June, 1941—the day he was reported missing.”
Sources – Service Record and nephew, Dennis Kerins.

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
2745
Name:
William Gordon (Bill) Bain
Rank: 
Private
Date of Birth:
01 August 1917
Next of Kin: 
Mr A.D. Bain (father), Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Locality on Enlistment: 
13 Seddon Terrace, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
Occupation on Enlistment:
Timber worker
Unit:
New Zealand Infantry, 18 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Killed in action
Died Between:
02 - 03 June 1941
Age at Death: 
23
Conflict: 
WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 1st Echelon
Embarkation Place:
Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date:
05 January 1940
Destination:
Egypt

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

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
12. A. 3.
Cemetery Location: 
Greece
William Gordon (Bill) Bain
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