Arnhem September 1944 casualty, New Zealand relatives/connection

[Philip Reinders]

I am trying to located a link to a soldier killed during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 and a connection to New Zealand at it seems that his medals were send there shortly after the war

The soldier Coporal Roland James West, who was born on 19-6-1922 in Dehra Dunn, India father Jock, mother Margaret West, grandson o a Mrs E.M. Fleming, anyone has an idea were took look?

Thanks in advance

[ShaunJ]

The medals application was made by Mrs Fleming, medals to be sent to her at Dehra Dun, India.

Where is the bit about New Zealand? Is there something on the back of the card?

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62862/records/1412308

[Philip Reinders]

She send them on to New Zeland in 1954

[ShaunJ]

She send them on to New Zeland in 1954

To whom?

[Philip Reinders]

No idea! hence to question to find a connection.

[minniehaha]

A little more background for those who may be interested:

https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/roland-j-west

Minniehaha.

[shanreagh]

A little more background for those who may be interested:

https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/roland-j-west

Minniehaha.

This write-up is a little odd as it mentions his parents from India and then mentions him being a black soldier.  So if he was born in India of possibly Anglo Indian parents (we don't know) then he would be Indian, rather than black.  Contrary to what is said there were many Indians both full and Anglo Indians serving in regiments across the Commonwealth in WW2.  My partner's father, from an Anglo Indian family, served in the Indian Army during WW2, his brother served as a Chaplain in a UK regiment. 

Perhaps it is just me but I've never regarded an Indian person as being black? Afro-Americans, people from the west Indies  etc, black Africans sure. 

[shanreagh]

She send them on to New Zeland in 1954

Where has this information come from please?

Have you verified that Mrs Fleming was the mother of either of Cpl West's mother or father?

It may be that another child (her grandchild)  went to NZ. But without doing a basic genealogical research to track this it is not going to be easy to work out who may have received the medals.....

Have you done this?

[Philip Reinders]

connection found through some help from someone in NZ, so topic can be closed