Eugene Berry “Tom” Waetford
2nd Lieutenant · NZ #25415 · R Patrol · MC
| Rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
|---|---|
| Service number | NZ #25415 |
| Patrol | R Patrol |
| Known as | “Tom” |
| Born | 1917-05-29 |
| Died | 2007 |
| Honours | MC |
| Campaign medals | War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal |
| Record | https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C145327 |
What this roll records
Service number corrected in August 2026 from NZ #25414 to NZ #25415. The discrepancy was noted on this card when the Cenotaph record was first linked, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s L.R.D.G. Membership Roll of February 1970 confirms 25415. 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
Patrol R: "Pte E.B. (Tom) Waetford", R Patrol (with Free French). Brendan O'Carroll, "The Long Range Desert Group in North Africa".
Cenotaph record linked; matched by name (Eugene Berry Waetford) — Cenotaph service number 25415 differs from sheet (likely typo, verify). Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph. Honours/medals: MC, War Medal 1939-45, NZ War Service Medal.
Born 29 May 1917 at Whangarei. Labourer in civilian life. Embarked/served with 29 Infantry Battalion. 2 Lt E. B. Waetford, MC, of Whangarei; wounded 3 Aug 1944. Brother of Clarke Te Ihi Waetford, MM (also LRDG). Recorded as Eugene Henry Waetford by BDM. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
Full name Eugene Berry. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
His Military Cross was announced on 10 May 1945. 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 373/11/596. He was the brother of Clarke Te Ihi Waetford, who won the Military Medal — a Military Cross and a Military Medal in one Whangarei family. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
Labourer in civilian life. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
See him in the full roll →Where this comes from
- AKA added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll (missing information).
- Additional sources (AWMM Online Cenotaph). Nominal Roll 2NZEF No. 3, p.490; No. 4, p.362. Unit history: Ross, A. (1959). 23 Battalion; Gillespie, O. (1952). The Pacific; Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. External links: London Gazette, 10 May 1945, p.2455 (Military Cross): http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37072/supplements/2455; The National Archives, Recommendation for Award (WO 373/11/596): http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7353886; Ross, 23 Battalion (NZETC): http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-23Ba.html Also cited: B-Force 8th Infantry Brigade Embarkation Roll, Archives NZ AAYS 8638 AD1/1421 (R22440171).
This page is part of the Long Range Desert Group roll of members at lrdgarchive.org. If you hold rights to anything on it and would like it credited differently, or taken down, please see Sources and Copyright. It will be dealt with promptly.
Not By Strength But By Guile