William Alfred OLDHAM

Regimental number8/3456
Date of birth13 October 1890
Place of birthNew Zealand
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationTraveller
Address16 Chamberlain Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 7.75"
Weight163 lbs
Next of kinFather, A O Oldham, 10 Sheldon Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 August 1914
Place of enlistmentAuckland
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Otago Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit 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.
Final rankCorporal
Final unit2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 8 August 1917
Medals

Military Medal

'Operations: Switch Line, 15th September 1916 and following days. This non commissioned officer showed great bravery and leadership in the above action, and after the Switch Trench had been taken he was untiring in his efforts to help to consolidate, and throughout that day and night his devotion to duty, and the way in which he cheered up his men was beyond all praise.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 9 December 1916

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

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

Embarked Alexandria with unit to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 12 April 1915.

Attached to Advance Base, Mustapha, Egypt, 20 May 1915.

Embarked Suez, 10 August 1915, and proceeded to New Zealand on duty; disembarked New Zealand, 18 September 1915.

Transferred to Otago Battalion and regimental number changed to 8/3456, no date stated.

Embarked Wellington with 8th Reinforcements, 13 November 1915; rejoined Auckland Battalion, Ismailia, 18 January 1916.

Transferred to 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, 1 March 1916.

Appointed Temporary Lance Corporal, 1 March 1916.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 19 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria with unit to join the British Expeditionary Force (France), 8 April 1916.

Admitted to No.2 New Zealand Field Ambulance, in the field, 31 July 1916, and transferred to Divisional Rest Station the same day (debility); relinquished appointment of Temporary Corporal, 31 July 1916; rejoined unit, 8 August 1916.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 22 November 1916.

Admitted to hospital, 11 December 1916, and relinquished appointment of Temporary Corporal the same day; rejoined unit, 14 December 1916.

Sent to hospital, 18 December 1916 (hysteria); admitted to No.2 New Zealand Field Ambulance, 21 December 1916; discharged to Reinforcement Camp, 27 December 1916; rejoined unit, 1 January 1917.

Appointed Temporary Corporal, 19 February 1917.

Promoted Corporal, 24 March 1917.

Wounded in action, 7 June 1917, and admitted to No.9 Australian Field Ambulance the same day (gunshot wound, head and neck); transferred to No.56 General Hospital, Etaples, 8 June 1917; to England, 19 June 1917, and admitted to No.1 New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst, the same day.

Classified as unfit, 2 July 1917.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Avonmouth on board HS 'Maheno', 8 August 1917; disembarked New Zealand, 17 September 1917; discharged (no longer physically fit for war service due to wounds received in action), 7 December 1917.

Total war service: 3 years 118 days (of which 2 years 302 days were abroad).

Medals: Military Medal, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Infantry Batln/Main Body and Eighth
Date of death29 September 1953
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21382140