George Bertrand

Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick Bertrand OBE, ED (9 February 1891 – 25 July 1957) was an officer of the New Zealand Military Forces who served in both the First and Second World Wars.

George Frederick Bertrand
Born(1891-02-09)9 February 1891
Urenui, New Zealand
Died25 July 1957(1957-07-25) (aged 66)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Buried
Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth
Allegiance New Zealand
Service/branchNew Zealand Military Forces
RankLieutenant Colonel
Commands heldTaranaki Regiment
2nd Māori Battalion
AwardsOfficer of the Order of the British Empire

Early life

George Bertrand was born on 9 February 1891 in Urenui, New Zealand. His father was an English immigrant and his mother was Māori (Ngāti Mutunga). Betrand attended Te Aute College and Wellington Teachers' Training College[1][2]

Military career

With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Bertrand enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was posted to the Wellington Battalion. He served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He was wounded three times and rose to the rank of lieutenant.[2][3]

Between the wars, Bertrand served as a territorial officer in the Taranaki Regiment and rose to become its commanding officer in 1931.[2][4]

During the Second World War, Bertrand was made second in command of the 28th (Māori) Battalion and saw action in Greece, Crete and North Africa. He returned to New Zealand in 1942 and commanded the 2nd Māori Battalion until 1944.[2][3]

Civilian life

Bertrand taught at New Plymouth Boys' High School between the two world wars and again after World War II. He was a member of the Ngarimu Scholarship Fund Board.[5]

Later life

Bertrand died in Palmerston North on 25 July 1957 from injuries suffered in a car crash. He was buried in Te Henui Cemetery in New Plymouth.[6][7]

Honours and awards

Bertrand was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1943 New Year Honours.[3][8]

Order of the British Empire 1914-1915 Star
British War Medal Victory Medal 1939–1945 Star Africa Star
Defence Medal War Medal 1939–1945 New Zealand War Service Medal Efficiency Decoration (New Zealand)
Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal New Zealand Territorial Service Medal King George V Silver Jubilee Medal

References
  1. "Lt. Col. George Bertrand". Puke Ariki. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  2. Cody, J.F (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. p. 2. OCLC 10848095. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. "George Frederick Bertrand". Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  4. No. 89. The New Zealand Gazette. 18 December 1930. p. 3871
  5. "George Frederick Bertrand". 28th Māori Battalion. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  6. "Mr G. F. Bertrand". The Press. 29 July 1957.
  7. "George Frederick Bertrand". Find a Grave. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  8. "No. 35841". The London Gazette. 1 January 1943. p. 9.
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