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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 10, 2022 20:01:03 GMT 12
Does anyone here know anything about an airman called
Norman Galbraith Brierly
Service Number 638008
D.O.B 29-6-1915
He supposedly served with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron in WWII, and was RAF (apparently) but is also said to have served at Guadalcanal which meads me to wonder if he was RNZAF. Or was he one of the handful of RAF groundcrew members that got sent to NZ and were attached to the RNZAF in the Pacific?
He is not on the 75 Sqn roll.
I am wondering if that service number is a prewar TAF one and he was a Kiwi?
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 10, 2022 21:23:13 GMT 12
Does anyone here know anything about an airman called Norman Galbraith Brierly Service Number 638008 D.O.B 29-6-1915 He supposedly served with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron in WWII, and was RAF (apparently) but is also said to have served at Guadalcanal which meads me to wonder if he was RNZAF. Or was he one of the handful of RAF groundcrew members that got sent to NZ and were attached to the RNZAF in the Pacific? He is not on the 75 Sqn roll. I am wondering if that service number is a prewar TAF one and he was a Kiwi? Auckland-born Brierly was Auckland Territorial Squadron man 638008. I can find no evidence of him being with the RAF or with 75 (NZ) Squadron. A Routine Order records him as a Flight Rigger and reverting to AC1 from Acting Corporal with effect 15 Mar 40. He was married in New Zealand in 1943. Other reports have him in New Zealand during 1941 and 1942. Cheers, Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 10, 2022 21:31:44 GMT 12
Thanks very much Errol! This is helpful.
So Guadalcanal is definitely a possibility. And knowing he was RNZAF, that means his granddaughter who is wanting the info can hopefully get his service record.
I guess it is possible he served in No. 75 Squadron after the war...
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Post by sherrynb on Mar 22, 2024 15:37:55 GMT 12
Norman is my father. He was New Zealand born and lived all of his life in NZ. He joined the RNZAF on 4th September 1939 and was discharged from service on 13 October 1945. He spent just over 1 year in the Guadacanal area working as ground crew for his squadron as a fitter. (This was also his civilian trade.) The rest of his wartime service was at various bases in NZ, but I think the longest time would have been spent at Ohakea. He was a Flight Sergeant at the time of his discharge from service.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 24, 2024 19:12:32 GMT 12
Thanks Sherry.
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