John Davies Wilder Ormond
Encyclopedia
Sir John Davies Wilder Ormond, BEM
(8 September 1905 – 8 March 1995) born at Wallingford Station, New Zealand
was a businessman and farmer. The grandson of John Davies Ormond
, he married Judith Wall on 26 August 1939. They had four sons and one daughter.
He started out with a large sheep and cattle run
. Later he was elected to the Waipukurau Branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union (1927–1930). Earlier in his life he went to Christ's College
, New Zealand. His sports were tennis and rugby. During World War II
, he served in Greece, and received the British Empire Medal
for diving off a troopship attempting to rescue a drowning man. Wounded in action he was invalided back to New Zealand, where he served as instructor and rose to the rank of army captain.
After the war, he saw the need for New Zealand to ship products aboard. He led a trade delegation to Japan
in the 1960s to promote trade with Japan. He later hosted a delegation at the Wallingford Station Run. He won many friends and business contacts. He was the long time chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producer Board. Later in life he organised the New Zealand Shipping Corporation. He was its chairman until September 1979. He also ran one of the largest sheep runs in New Zealand.
In his later life he retired to his cattle and sheep run. On 2 July 1964 he was knighted
for his services to New Zealand
and the Commonwealth
. A fellowship is named in his honor, the Sir John Ormond Fellowship.
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
(8 September 1905 – 8 March 1995) born at Wallingford Station, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
was a businessman and farmer. The grandson of John Davies Ormond
John Davies Ormond
John Davies Ormond was a New Zealand politician whose positions included Superintendent of Hawke's Bay Province, Minister of Public Works and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council....
, he married Judith Wall on 26 August 1939. They had four sons and one daughter.
He started out with a large sheep and cattle run
Sheep station
A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
. Later he was elected to the Waipukurau Branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union (1927–1930). Earlier in his life he went to Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
, New Zealand. His sports were tennis and rugby. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served in Greece, and received the British Empire Medal
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
for diving off a troopship attempting to rescue a drowning man. Wounded in action he was invalided back to New Zealand, where he served as instructor and rose to the rank of army captain.
After the war, he saw the need for New Zealand to ship products aboard. He led a trade delegation to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in the 1960s to promote trade with Japan. He later hosted a delegation at the Wallingford Station Run. He won many friends and business contacts. He was the long time chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producer Board. Later in life he organised the New Zealand Shipping Corporation. He was its chairman until September 1979. He also ran one of the largest sheep runs in New Zealand.
In his later life he retired to his cattle and sheep run. On 2 July 1964 he was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
for his services to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. A fellowship is named in his honor, the Sir John Ormond Fellowship.