John Wilson
John first joined the New Zealand Army in 1940 to train as an officer but on finding the 2NZEF complete he volunteered to serve as an officer in the Indian Army.
Following Japan's invasion of Malaya in December 1941 his Indian unit formed part of the British force there that was defeated and subsequently surrendered at Singapore.
Wounded with his leg in plaster and in hospital he narrowly avoided a massacre of hospital staff and patients by Japanese soldiers after Singapore was captured in 1942. Wilson became a prisoner of war and survived 3 1/2 years working on the Thailand/Burma rail link known as the "Death Railway.
After the war Mr Wilson enjoyed a long and successful law career and was known for his presidency of the New Zealand Red Cross. John died on 1 October 2010 in Wellington, New Zealand when he was 96 and he was married to Judy Wilson.
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