Robert Francis GUDGEON

Regimental number6/1302
Date of birth16 January 1894
Place of birthPicton
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBank clerk
Address444 Madras Street, Christchurch
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 11.5"
Weight165 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs A H Gudgeon, 444 Madras Street, Christchurch
Previous military serviceServed in the Cadets; not serving in any military unit at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date29 September 1914
Place of enlistmentChristchurch
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 2nd Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Willochra on 14 December 1914
Final rankPrivate
Final unitCanterbury Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 25 April 1915
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel No 74), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: J.B. and A.M.A. Gudgeon, Christchurch. Native of Picton, Blenheim
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Reported missing, 25 April 1915.

Court of Enquiry, 26 May 1915, concluded 'Killed in action, 25 april 1915'.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Canterbury Infantry Batln/Second
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 16789469

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