‹ Long Range Desert Group — Roll of Members

David John “Jack, Jock” Aitken

Captain · NZ #5461 · R1 Patrol · OBE

David John “Jack, Jock” Aitken
RankCaptain
Service numberNZ #5461
PatrolR1 Patrol
Known as“Jack, Jock”
Born1917-10-11
Died2005-10-26
HonoursOBE
Campaign medalsWar Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal, NZ Operational Service Medal, Italy Star, Africa Star
Recordhttps://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C133961

What this roll records

Deeper background (2026): his OBE is recorded in The London Gazette 1960 New Year Honours — “Lieutenant-Colonel David John Aitken (30089), New Zealand Regiment (Regular Force)” appointed OBE (Military Division). This is a post-war honour (his wartime 2NZEF number was 5461; 30089 is the later Regular Force number); no wartime citation was located. Source: The London Gazette, issue 41911, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41911/supplement/42

Also served in the Malayan Emergency (1948-60), NZ Army service no. 30089. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll): Maj. D. J. Aitken — slaughterman, New Plymouth; born Leeston, 11 Oct 1917; patrol commander LRDG; J Force 1946; later NZ Regular Army.

Patrol commander: commanded R1 Patrol. Kiwi Scorpions (Appendix II — Commanders of NZ Patrols).

Original member of the Long Range Patrol (LRP), 1940 — listed with the “LRP” comment in the nominal roll, The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll).

Commanded R1 patrol in the Aegean (1943): held the Mount Zuncona coastal battery on Leros until it was bombed out (9 October); took seven men to Naxos for seventeen days, bringing back two shot-down British airmen hidden by Greeks; withdrawn with twenty men to Palestine on 7 November, before the invasion. Source: ‘Invasion of the Dodecanese Islands’ (Battle of Leros / Assault on Levita), Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (NZ official war history).

Slaughterman, of New Plymouth; born Leeston, 11 Oct 1917. m.i.d. J Force 1946; later NZ Regular Army. Source: Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (biographical notes).

New Zealand (A) Squadron, LRDG — R1 Patrol at disbandment, 10 December 1943. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, ‘The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean’ (Appendix IV, New Zealand (A) Squadron Disbandment Roll, 10 December 1943).

He also appears as “Capt. (temp.) D. J. Aitken (5461)” in a list of New Zealand Military Forces officers in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 23 May 1946 (issue 37575, p. 2492). Source: The London Gazette, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37575/supplement/2492

Slaughterman in civilian life. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Buried at Ellesmere Cemetery, Leeston, Canterbury. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Embarkation detail from his Cenotaph record: he embarked as Private; vessel Captain Cook. The rank held on this card, Captain, is his LRDG rank; promotion after embarkation was the rule rather than the exception, so the two are not in conflict. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph, record C133961.

The prefix NZ has been added to his service number, on the authority of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph record already linked on this card — the Museum holds him as a New Zealand service person. The digits are unchanged. This roll formerly left the number unmarked, which made it look like a British number to anyone reading the field rather than the card.

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Where this comes from

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Not By Strength But By Guile