Person:Jack Mummery (1)

1945 - (From unknown newspaper): DEATH ON AIR OPERATIONS. FLIGHT-SERGEANT J. W. MUMMERY. The friends of the late Flight-Seargeant Jack Womack Mummery learned with deep regret of his death on operational duties in the Pacific, recently. He was the son of Mr and Mrs P. H. Mummery , of Palmerston North. Born in Palmerston North in 1924, he was educated at the Central School, and later at the Palmerston North Boys' High School, during which time he figured prominently in sporting activities. From 1838 to 1941 he represented his school at cricket and hockey, being a member of the second cricket XI and the first hockey XI. In 1940 and 1941 he was chosen as a New Zealand secondary schools hockey representative, and subsequently played for the Broadway Hockey Club, and represented Manawatu in 1942. On leaving school he joined the Department of Agriculture, where he was employed until his enlistment in the Air Force. With the formation of the Air Training Corps he became one of the initial members, attaining the rank of flight-sergeant, and the age of 18 1/2 years he transferred to the Air Force, where he trained as a bomber pilot in New Zealand and Fiji, receiving his wings at Wigram in May, 1944. He left in May, 1945, for a tour of operations in the Pacific where he subsequently lost his life.

CWGC Roll of Honour: Name: MUMMERY, JACK WOMACK; Initials: J W; Nationality: New Zealand; Rank: Flight Sergeant; Regiment: Royal New Zealand Air Force; Age: 21; Date of Death: 29/08/1945; Service No: 43496; Additional information: Son of Peter Henry and Gertrude Hilda Mummery, of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand; Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead; Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 6; Cemetery: BOURAIL MEMORIAL.

Bourail is on the western coast of the island of New Caledonia, which lies approximately 1600 kilometres north of New Zealand. The Bourail Memorial is situated in Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, which lies about 9 kilometres south-east of Bourail, on the main road north and east of the Nera River, which flows into Bourail Bay. The Memorial stands behind the Cross of Sacrifice and commemorates 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 Memorial consists of a curved screen wall with pierced wing walls of brick. The names are recorded on 12 bronze panels affixed to the main wall; the first nine bear the names of New Zealanders, and the remaining three those of men of the Western Pacific Local Forces. Above the panels is the following inscription: 1939 - 1945 THESE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY, THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC LOCAL FORCES SERVED AND DIED IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC ON LAND AT SEA AND IN THE AIR AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.