Thomas Robert “Robert; also recorded as McLelland, Thomas Robert” MacLelland

Private · NZ #431916 · R Patrol · 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal

What this roll records

Name amended in August 2026 from “McLelland, Thomas Robert” to “MacLelland, Thomas Robert”. The Auckland War Memorial Museum’s L.R.D.G. Membership Roll of February 1970 gives the latter form against the same service number, NZ #431916, so this is one man and not two records. The Cenotaph also carries a second number for him, 1/12/1218, alongside 431916. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum, “Long Range Desert Group Membership Roll” — the L.R.D.G. Membership Roll of February 1970, the New Zealand Association’s own register of surviving members, https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/popular-searches/lrdg

Verified 27 Jul 2026 vs Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph. Rank Private (2NZEF Nom. Roll 11). Surname officially MacLelland. POW from 25 Oct 1943. DOB confirmed; no death date on record.

New Zealand (A) Squadron, Levitha (24 Oct 1943): prisoner of war. Source: Roll of New Zealand (A) Squadron Casualties on Levitha, Brendan O’Carroll, "The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean".

Captured 25 October 1943; POW at Stalag 357 (No. 2), Thorn (Toruń); POW serial 35885. Linesman in civilian life. Embarked/served with 11 Infantry Brigade. Initially posted to 31 (Auckland) Battalion. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Full name Thomas Robert. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

AWMM records the surname spelling as “MacLelland” (held here as McLelland).

Consolidated with a duplicate roll entry recorded under the alternate spelling ‘McClelland, T.R.’; same man.

New Zealanders in the Levita action, 24 October 1943: taken prisoner of war. Source: Brendan O’Carroll, ‘The Kiwi Scorpions’ (Appendix IX, New Zealanders in the Levita action).

The roll formerly carried this man twice, under the two spellings of his surname — once as “McLelland, Thomas Robert”, carrying his service number, photograph, patrol and Cenotaph detail, and once as “MacLelland, Thomas Robert”, carrying only his listing in the Levita action. They are plainly one man: the same full name, the same capture on Levita on 24 October 1943. The two were merged in August 2026 once the surname on the first record was brought into line with the AWMM roll and the two entries came to sit together. This card had already absorbed a third spelling of him, “McClelland, T.R.”.

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

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

• AKA added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll (missing information).
• Honours & campaign medals from Online Cenotaph: 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
• Additional sources (AWMM Online Cenotaph). Nominal Roll 2NZEF No. 11 (Embarkations 1 Apr–30 Jun 1943), p.85. Unit history: Mason, W.W. (1954). Prisoners of war. External links: Germany imperial POW list, section 4 (Zenodo): https://zenodo.org/records/3955186 Also cited: List of 2NZEF Prisoners of War 1941-1945, AWMM Library MS 2009/8.

In collaboration withThe Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) Preservation SocietyTo add information about this man, or note a correction, please post in the Society’s Facebook Group →

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Not By Strength But By Guile