A New Zealand Memorial Cross group to Sub Lieutenant (Air) D.H. Warner, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve who was killed in a flying accident at the end of his training when his Seafire aircraft crash landed out of control and he was killed instantly on 4th February 1943 in Evergreen Memorial Park, Portsmouth, New York.
Group of 5: 1939-1945 Star; Defence Medal; War Medal; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-1945; New Zealand Memorial Cross, GVIR,; (S/LT (A) D.H. WARNER RNZNVR)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Desmond Harold Warner was the son of Harold Mason and Margaret Mary Warner and later trained at St. Vincent, Portsmouth as a Naval Airman between April and August 1941 and from August 1941 to May 1942 at H.M.S. Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, gained his flying badge and promoted Temporary Sub-Lieutenant (Air). He would leave on S.S. Stratheden in convoy with large numbers of both Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm airmen on board sailing to the United States under the Towers Scheme. He was stationed August 1942 with 898 Squadron at H.M.S. Saker, formerly H.M.S. Asbury, at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, New York State. He completed operational flying training December 1942. In January 1943 he was rated Draft Preference One, and in the middle of the month was appointed to join the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Victorious. On a final flight the Seafire aircraft he was piloting crash landed out of control and he was killed instantly, and Warner was buried with Naval honours on February 4th 1943 in Evergreen Memorial Park, Portsmouth, New York in Section F which was reserved for Royal Naval/FAA internments. HMS Victorious stated on both Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Naval Lists are incorrect as he did not join the carrier.
