William IRWIN

Regimental number9/1639
Date of birth11 September 1879
Place of birthCarterton
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
AddressOrui, Masterton
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation35
Height5' 8"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs Clara Collins, 11 Douglas Street, Wellington
Previous military serviceServed in the Wariapapa Native Mounted Rifles; unit disbanded; at time of NZEF enlistment was a member of the Timaru Rifle Club.
Enlistment date24 August 1915
Rank on embarkationSergeant
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, 8th Reinforcement
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 13 November 1915
The 8th Reinforcements of the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment left New Zealand on board two aships, HMNZT 35 'Willochra' and HMNZT 36 'Tofua'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankGunner
Final unitNew Zealand Field Artillery
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 8 March 1919
Discharge date13 May 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Transferred to NZ Field Artillery, Ismailia, 11 March 1916, and posted to 15th Battery.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 5 April 1916.

On leave to Paris, 27 January 1918; rejoined unit, in the field, 7 February 1918.

On leave, 17 August 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 4 September 1918.

Detached to United Kingdom, 28 January 1919; marched into Sling Camp, 3 February 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Southampton on board HT 'Willochra', 8 March 1919; discharged, 13 May 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 263 days (of which 3 years 154 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Mounted Rifles/Eighth
Date of death21 June 1953 Opotiki
Age at death73
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805

Print format