The Memorial Cross issued to the next-of-kin of Henry Halsey, who was killed during the sinking of the SS Chakdina by enemy torpedo bombers on 5th December 1941.

 

Henry Halsey was born 20th August 1912 at East Taieri, son of William Henry and Katie Halsey (née Blackie). At the time of his enlistment into the 2nd NZEF in 1940 he was working as a fitter in Dunedin, and living in Fairfield with Annie Isobel Watson, whom he subsequently married . He embarked with the 3rd Echelon, 2nd NZEF and served during the Libyan campaign in 1941. At Sidi Rezegh on 1st December 1941 the truck he was in exploded a land-mine, wounding Henry in the foot. 

 

On 5th December 1941 Halsey, along with several hundred other wounded Allied troop and some Axis prisoners of war, were loaded on SS Chakdina at Tobruk and set sail for Alexandria in Egypt. Just after 9pm the vessel was struck by an aerial torpedo dropped by an Italian torpedo bomber, and sank within 4 minutes. Henry Halsey was either killed in the blast or went down with the ship. His body was never found, and he is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. Henry's Battery Commander, Maj. J.A. Brereton wrote of Henry: "...was one of those reliable people that we could ill-afford to lose.  He did a very good job at all times, and we miss him very much."

 

The Memorial Cross is correctly impressed 61292 GNR. H. HALSEY. His service file has not been obtained, so there is plenty of scope for further research.