William Allan Derrett

Sergeant · NZ #25542 · T1 Patrol · MM

Rank	Sergeant
Service number	NZ #25542
Patrol	T1 Patrol
Born	1914-10-18
Died	1999-02-01
Honours	MM
Campaign medals	War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal
Record	https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/84404

What this roll records

His Military Medal was awarded in 1943–44. The recommendation survives at The National Archives, Kew, in series WO 373 (War Office, Military Secretary’s Department: Recommendations for Honours and Awards for Gallantry), reference WO 373/26/257 — but note that the file is catalogued under the spelling “Derrett, William ALLEN”, so a search on Allan will not find it. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Verified 27 Jul 2026 vs Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph. Rank Sergeant; awarded Military Medal (Alam Halfa, Aug 1942). Service number corrected 25442->25542 per Cenotaph/LRDG roll.

Full name William Allan Derrett; born 18 October 1914 at Patea; died 1 February 1999, aged 84. Buried at Hamilton Memorial Park, Hamilton East. Won the Military Medal at Alam Halfa on 30 August 1942: though badly wounded in both feet and the chest, he drove a gun crew and wounded men through heavy shellfire to safety. Son of William and Ruth Derrett. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

New Zealand (A) Squadron, LRDG — T1 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).

Also commemorated at Mangere Memorial Hall, Domain Road, Mangere, Auckland. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph, record 84404.

Rank not found online. Where to look: (1) Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph (https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/search) - search surname, then match on this service number; the record shows rank as published in the 2NZEF Nominal Roll. (2) Archives NZ WWII personnel file (https://collections.archives.govt.nz) - definitive rank history, request required.

See him in the full roll →

Where this comes from

Missing info added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll.
Honours & campaign medals from Online Cenotaph: MM, War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
Additional sources (AWMM Online Cenotaph). Nominal Roll 2NZEF No. 3 (Embarkations 1 Jul 1940–31 Mar 1941), p.71. Unit history: Murphy, W. (1966). 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery; Walker, R. (1967). Alam Halfa and Alamein. External links: London Gazette, 14 October 1943, p.4548 (Military Medal): http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36209/supplements/4548; The National Archives, Recommendation for Award (WO 373/26/257): http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7362230 Also cited: Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two; Record researched by the Mangere Historical Society.

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