William Perry OKEY

Regimental number10/730
Date of birth19 May 1891
Place of birthNew Plymouth
ReligionMethodist
OccupationEngineer
AddressNew Plymouth
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23.4
Height5' 9"
Weight146 lbs
Next of kinFather, F W Okey, New Plymouth
Previous military service'A' Company, 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles)
Enlistment date12 August 1914
Place of enlistmentNew Plymouth
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Wellington Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 10 Arawa on 16 October 1914
Final rankSergeant
Final unitWellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 7 August 1915
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Wellington, 16 October 1914; disembarked Alexandria, Egypt, 3 December 1914.

Appointed Lance Sergeant, 11 January 1915.

Appointed Sergeant, 8 February 1915.

Embarked Alexandria with unit to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Admitted to Minesweeper 'Clacton', Dardanelles, 21 May 1915, and transferred to HS 'Franconia', the same day (cardiac strain); to No.1 Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 8 June 1915; discharged to duty, 20 June 1915.

Admitted to Australia and New Zealand Convalescent Depot, Helouan, 8 July 1915 (strained heart).

Commenced return to New Zealand from Suez on board HS 'Tahiti', 7 August 1915; disembarked New Zealand, 11 September 1915; discharged (medically unfit for active service), 26 September 1915.

Total war service: 1 year 46 days (of which 331 days were abroad).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Wellington Infantry Batln/Main Body
Date of death23 April 1983, New Plymouth
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21382087

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