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Record Detail |
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| Full Name: |
Robert Edward Marchioni |
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| Rank Last Held: |
Able Seaman |
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| Forename(s): |
Robert Edward |
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| Surname: |
Marchioni |
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| War: |
- Regular Military Service
- Korean War, 1950-1953
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| Gender: |
Male |
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| Date of Birth: |
1 April 1932 |
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| Place of Birth: |
Taihape, Manawatu, New Zealand |
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| First Known Rank: |
Ordinary Seaman |
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| Next of Kin: |
Mrs Ena Marchioni (mother), Wanganui, New Zealand |
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| Body on Embarkation: |
Kayforce |
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| Embarkation Unit: |
Royal New Zealand Navy |
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| Military Awards: |
- New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM)
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) Posthumous
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| Last Unit Served: |
Royal New Zealand Navy, HMNZS Rotoiti |
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| Place of Death: |
Sogon-ni, south of Ch'o-do, Korea |
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| Date of Death: |
26 August 1951 |
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| Age at Death: |
19 |
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| Year of Death: |
1951 |
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| Cause of Death: |
Killed in action |
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| Obituary: |
Obituary: New Zealand Herald, 28 August 1951, p. 6 |
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| Biographical Notes: |
- Next of kin Mrs Ena Marchioni, formerly of Utiku, living in Wanganui in 1951.
- Served in Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) 1949-51.
- Served in HMNZS Rotoiti 1950-51.
- "Able-Seaman Marchioni is the first naval casualty in Korea. He joined the service in 1949 and, after training at H.M.N.Z.S. Tamaki, he joined the Rotoiti as an ordinary-seaman in July, 1950. In April of this year he was rated Able-Seaman, and several months ago he passed his examination for Leading-Seaman. He was regarded as an outstanding rating." (NZ Herald, 28 August 1951, p. 6)
- Able Seaman Marchioni was killed in a raid on Sogon-ni, 26 August 1951.
- "Marchioni, who [Lieutenant-Commander B.E.] Turner recalled as 'one of the greatest seaman boys I ever had', was the RNZN's only fatal battle casualty of the war. Turner wanted to mount a landing in daylight to recover his body, but was refused permission. During the morning, a funeral service was conducted on Rotoiti by Ceylon's chaplain. Marchioni was posthumously mentioned in despatches for his part in the action." (McGibbon 1996, vol. 2, p. 176).
- Prime Minister Helen Clark and Defence Minister Mark Burton presented the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) to next of kin of New Zealanders who were killed or died in military operations since 1945 at a ceremony at Parliament 3 September 2003.
- The New Zealand Operational Service Medal was received on his behalf by his brother Mr Tony Marchioni of Hamilton.
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| Further References: |
- McGibbon, I.C. (1992-1996). Volume II: Combat Operations, pp. 175-6, 359, 363, 371, 374, 408. [photo of Able Seaman Marchioni pp. 142-43]
- Hopkins, G. (2002). p. 23, 58-60, 62, 139.
- New Zealand Navy in the Korean War. Navy Museum. URL: http://www.navymuseum.mil.nz/history/time/korean/default.htm
- New Zealand in the Korean War. NZHistory online. URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/korean-war
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| Sources Used: |
- McGibbon, I.C. (1992-1996). New Zealand and the Korean War (Vols. 1-2). Auckland, N.Z.; Wellington, N.Z.: Oxford University Press in association with the Historical Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs.
- New Zealand Herald
- Hopkins, G. (2002). Tales from Korea : the Royal New Zealand Navy. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
- New Zealand Defence Force. Roll of Honour. Personnel who have died on operational service since 3 September 1945. URL: http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/info/roll-of-honour/index.html
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