Read how Jim Wallace was found recently
The Trust frequently receives on-line and phone requests for help with genealogical research, while we can often help with your inquiries, there’s also a lot you can do to enrich your family story independently,
Take a look at the following questions and see what you can do to find the answers.
Once you have some of this information, we’re always happy to help – particularly with any queries relating to World War II US Marines history in and around Camps: Mackay, Russell and Paekakariki.
Take a look at the following questions and see what you can do to find the answers. Once you have some of this information, we’re always happy to help – particularly with any queries relating to World War II US Marines history in and around Camps: Mackay, Russell and Paekākāriki.
Starter Questions:
-
Full name (an correct spelling) of you relative or family member
-
Date of birth?
-
Date of death?
-
Relationship to you?
-
Which US state did they come from?
-
Where did they train?
-
Which port did they board ship in?
-
Name of ship they boarded?
-
Which NZ port did they arrive at?
-
Which camp were they in?
-
What division were they in?
-
Where they went when they left New Zealand?
-
Significant battles they fought in?
-
What did they specialise in e.g. engineering, map-making etc
-
Any New Zealand family or friends you know of?
-
Any memorabilia or papers of the person: discharge papers, “dog tags” dairies, photos, badges, caps etc
-
Your last contact?
Where you can find out more
-
The Leatherneck Magazine & Marine Corps Gazette
-
Paul Webber, (Deputy Historian) US Marine Corps HQ, Quantico Virginia. He has access to the database listing all US Marines killed in wartime since 1775.
-
The Trust has a copy of the Coroner’s Logbook from World War II - it lists all Marines killed in New Zealand during WWII and the names of those who died while training in the Pacific, whose bodies were brought back to New Zealand.
-
The Paekākāriki Station Museum: http://stationmuseum.co.nz/ (Open 11am – 3pm weekends. Phone 04 905 8275. Hosts the Friend In Need exhibition and also holds a very good small collection of archival material and memorabilia relating to US Marines in Kāpiti from 1942-44.
-
NZ History on-line: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/us-forces-in-new-zealand
-
NZ Archives: http://archives.govt.nz/visit/contact
-
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision: https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/