Rank & Name: Corporal Ronald Keith Bartlett (NZ)
Date of Death: 14.12.1944
Details:

 

Little is known of Corporal Bartlett at this stage. The Auckland Museum online war memorial notes him as a former member of 59 Squadron RAF (source)

Update June 2015: Recently been sent the following information for Cpl Bartlett by author Errol Martyn.

"The following entries are from my trilogy - For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915, might be of assistance."

Thu 14/Fri 15 Dec 1944 - New Zealand

Shooting accident - Non-effective Pool, RNZAF

During disembarkation leave, went shooting with a .22 repeating rifle in the evening on his father's farm at Silverhope, 3 miles SW of Hunterville. Died when the firearm accidentally discharged, apparently as he was getting through a fence, and is buried in the Upper Tutaenui Cemetery, Marton.

Armourer: NZ39310 Cpl Ronald Kieth BARTLETT, RNZAF - Age 23. During his time overseas Bartlett served as an armourer with 59 Sqn, RAF, 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF, and 486 Sqn, RNZAF.

Bio details from Volume Three:

BARTLETT, Ronald Kieth, NZ39310 (prev 39310); b Marton [Hunterville?] 19 Aug 21*; Marton DHS & Wanganui Collegiate [sic - Wanganui TColl?]; farmer - Army Dept, Trentham. NZ Army/TF (WWCR Mar 38, Special Res – Army Sch of Instr 18 Aug-19 Nov 38); RNZAF Trentham as Aircrafthand 13 Apr 39, 1FTS 16 Jun 39, remust as Armourer u/t 21 Jul 39, remust as Armourer 1 Feb 40, Ohakea 2 Feb 40, att RAF & emb for UK 25 Jul 40, 1 Depot 5 Sep 40, 59 Sqn (Blenheim) 9 Sep 40, 75(NZ)Sqn (Wellington) 29 Mar 41 [att 1AAS 17 Oct-?], 486 Sqn RNZAF (Hurricane, Typhoon) 28 Mar 42, 3084 NZ Servicing Echelon (Typhoon, Tempest) 29 Sep 43, 149 Airfield HQ (Tempest) 11 Mar 44, 12PD&RC 9 Jul 44, emb for NZ c.25 Jul 44, rtd to NZ & NEP 28 Sep 44, died in a shooting accident 14 Dec 44. Upper Tutaenui Cemetery, Marton - E.30. Son of Isaac Clarence & Grace Richmond Bartlett (nee Illston), Marton, Silverhope; h of Iris Lilian Bartlett (nee Legge), Gore.

Note: * gave birth year as 1920 on enlistment.

 

 

 

 

Further Information

If you have any further information for Corporal Bartlett, please contact me. Thank you.

 

Rest In Peace