William MARSTERS

Regimental number15568
Date of birth21 June 1891
Place of birthAvarua, Rarotonga
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationShowman
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 7"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinFriend, Mrs Crowe, 50 Manchester Street, Christchurch
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date5 April 1916
Rank on embarkationLance Corporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 15th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Waitemata on 26 July 1916
Final rankPrivate
Final unitNew Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 14 December 1918
Discharge date13 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 25 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 3 October 1916; marched in to Reserve Group, Sling Camp, and reverted to the ranks, 3 October 1916.

Forfeited 11 days' pay by Royal Warrant, 28 October 1916 (no further details recorded).

Proceeded overseas to France, 15 November 1916; marched out to Division, 1 December 1916; on duty with 1st Bn, 2 December 1916.

Admitted to No 7 General Hospital, St Omer, 23 March 1917; rejoined unit, 10 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 7 June 1917 (gun shot wound, face); admitted to 77th Field Ambulance, 8 June 1917; rejoined 1st Bn, 12 June 1917.

Transferred to NZ Pioneer Bn, 3 July 1917.

On leave, 18 August 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 3 September 1917.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 8 September 1917.

Admitted to NZ Stationary Hospital, Wisques, 13 November 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin); transferred to Ambulance Train, 25 November 1917 (pleurisy), and admitted to No 4 General Hospital, Camiers; transferred to England, 30 November 1917, and admitted to Military Hospital, Bethnal Green, London, 1 December 1917; discharged to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 28 December 1917.

Transferred to Rarotonga Company, 19 March 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 7 May 1918; marched in to Base Depot, Etaples, 9 May 1918.

Attached on strength to NZ Depot Unit of Supply, Marseilles, 26 May 1918.

Embarked Marseilles for Egypt, 5 June 1918; disembarked Alexandria, 14 June 1918; taken on strength, Rarotonga Company, in the field, 3 July 1918.

Admitted to Field Ambulance, 24 July 1918 (malaria); discharged to duty, 30 July 1918, and rejoined unit, in the field.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 22 August 1918.

Found guilty, 23 August 1918, in that he in the field on 20 August 1918 gave an order of a vexatious nature to men under him: reprimanded.

Relinquished appointment of Temporary Corporal, 26 November 1918, and appointed Lance Corporal.

Found guilty, 26 November 1918 of (1) drunkenness; (2) being absent without leave: penalty not recorded on file.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Suez on board RL 'Malta', 14 December 1918; discharged (termination of period of engagement), 13 June 1919.

War service: 3 years 70 days (of which 2 years 186 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death21 May 1940 Te Kuita
Age at death48
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 37, p. 7
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805