On the 27th September 1916 while the Battalion was in Goose Alley, enemy incendiary shells landed on stacks of enemy 5.9" and other ammunition (about 3000 rounds) left deserted on Abbey Road/Goose Alley Junctions. Several of the deserted shells had already burst when Pte Needs leaped out of the sap and promptly threw earth on the burning shell baskets. At the same time there was a heavy artillery barrage. If the pile of enemy ammunition had burst our strong point would have been completely destroyed with its garrison.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 9 December 1916

Regimental number	8/794
Address	Yaldhurst, Christchurch
Marital status	Single
Next of kin	Brother, William Henry Needs, Alma, Oamaru
Rank on embarkation	Private
Enlistment status	Volunteer
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Otago Infantry Battalion
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914
	Members of the Otago Infantry Battalion, Main Body, left Wellington on 16 October 1914 on two ships, HMNZT 9 'Hawke's Bay' and HMNZT 5 'Ruapehu'. From the Nominal Roll it is not possible to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Medals	Military Medal On the 27th September 1916 while the Battalion was in Goose Alley, enemy incendiary shells landed on stacks of enemy 5.9" and other ammunition (about 3000 rounds) left deserted on Abbey Road/Goose Alley Junctions. Several of the deserted shells had already burst when Pte Needs leaped out of the sap and promptly threw earth on the burning shell baskets. At the same time there was a heavy artillery barrage. If the pile of enemy ammunition had burst our strong point would have been completely destroyed with its garrison.' Source: London Gazette Date: 9 December 1916
Miscellaneous details	Nominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Infantry Batln/Main Body