Bom Gillies

Biography and cause of death of Bom Gillies

Sir Robert Nairn Gillies KNZM (14 February 1925 – 7 November 2024), Bom Gillies commonly known as Bom Gillies, 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.

Bom Gillies Biography

Born in Hawke’s Bay on 14 February 1925, Gillies was of Māori descent, affiliating with Ngāti Whakaue and Ngāti Kahungunu. Aged 17, he enlisted in the army, 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 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.

Bom Gillies Honours

In 2019, 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.

Gillies’ investiture as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, at Government House, Wellington, on 4 May 2022
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.

Bom Gillies 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.”

Gillies died in Rotorua on 7 November 2024, at the age of 99.

Source: Wikipedia