• Source: Bom Gillies

Sir Robert Nairn "Bom" Gillies (14 February 1925 – 7 November 2024) was a New Zealand soldier who served with B Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion, during World War II. He was the last surviving member of the Māori Battalion, and was knighted on 31 December 2021.




Biography


Born in Hastings in the Hawke's Bay on 14 February 1925, Gillies was Māori, of Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Kahungunu. His father, Ture Gillies (Ngāti Kahungunu) and Mother Maata Horomona (Te Arawa) moved to Ōhinemutu pā when Robert was six years old when their home in Waimārama was affected by the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. Gillies attended St Mary’s Convent in Seddon St, Rotorua Primary and Rotorua High School.
Gillies attempted twice to enlist in the Māori battalion, but failed. On his third attempt at age 17, he was successful, giving a false date of birth. In 1943, he left as a private in the 10th Reinforcements, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, landing in North Africa at the end of the Western Desert campaign. He then fought in the Italian campaign, sustaining injuries at Orsogna. After recovering, he continued serving with the Māori Battalion until the end of the war, including at the Battle of Monte Cassino.
In January 1946, Gillies joined over 700 of the Māori Battalion who sailed aboard the Dominion Monarch into Wellington, returning home.
In his later years, Gillies represented the Māori Battalion at many local, national and international commemorations. He attended the ceremonies in Italy marking the 70th and 75th anniversaries of the Battle of Monte Cassino in 2014 and 2019, and led the celebration on the 75th anniversary of the return of B Company to Rotorua in 2021. Gillies was a trustee of the 28th Māori Battalion B Company History Trust from 2013, and was active in the Te Arawa Returned Services Association.




Honours



Gillies was awarded an Italy Star, Africa Star, New Zealand War Service Medal and a War Medal 1939-1945.
In 2009, Gillies was appointed a Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, which he said he accepted on behalf of the entire Māori Battalion.

In the 2022 New Year Honours, Gillies was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and war commemoration. He had previously declined the honour, but accepted it on behalf of all those who had served, saying: There are many soldiers who did more and who have never been recognised. I accept on behalf of all the boys, all my mates who served in the Māori Battalion. - Bom Gilles




Death


Gillies died in Rotorua on 7 November 2024, at the age of 99. His tangihanga was held at Te Papaiouru Marae in Ōhinemutu, with a service held at St Faith's Church on the final day. His body was then taken via Tūnohopū Marae to Kauae Cemetery in Ngongotahā, where he was buried alongside his wife.




Further reading


Online Cenotaph record
NZ Defence Force: Last surviving member of the 28th (Maori) Battalion
Last One Standing from the 28th Māori Battalion Sir Robert 'Bom' Gillies wants peace | The Hui 2023
Sir Robert (Bom) Gillies




Reference

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