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4215534 Leading Aircraftsman John Arthur MEDHURST.
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. S.R. Medhurst of Otahuhu.

John Medhurst was born at Auckland on the 7th January, 1925. He received his secondary education at the Dargaville and Whangerei High Schools, passing the Senior Free Place examination. When applying for enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, on the 27th May 1942, he was employed by the Post & Telegraph Department at Dargaville.

Leading Aircraftsman Medhurst was enlisted at Harewood on the 19th December, 1942 and posted to Wigram early in February 1943, for training as a Radio Operator. He proceeded to Whenuapai on the 23rd March, afterwards embarking for Norfolk Island on the 22nd July, where he served until returning to New Zealand in July 1944. He was posted to the Air Department for duty in a clerical capacity and then late in March 1945 to Swanson, on the 20th April, he again embarked for overseas, being posted to Bougainville.

Leading Aircraftsman Medhurst was a passenger in a Hudson aircraft which crashed when landing at Piva Airstrip, Bougainville, on the 23rd April, 1945, after a transit flight from Guadalcanal. Leading Aircraftsman Medhurst receiving injuries from which he died the same day. He was buried in the Torokina War Cemetery, Bougainville. After the cessation of hostilities he was reinterred in the New Zealand Military Cemetery, Boursil, New Caledonia.

Find a Grave link with photo of deceased: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232610816/john-arthur-medhurst

5/6/2200 A.S.2.

Mrs. R.B. Medhurst (M) (right aligned)
1. Awa Street, (right aligned)
OTAHUHU. (right aligned & underlined)