Robert PURCELL

Regimental number27794
Date of birth7 August 1874
Place of birthOnehunga
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationTunneller
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation41
Height5' 11"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Kate Purcell, Bayswater, Takapuna, Auckland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date14 December 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 14th Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 26 June 1916
The Infantry component of the 14th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships, 'Maunaganui' and 'Tahiti'. It is not possible from the Nominal Rolls to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment
FateAccidentally killed 16 November 1917
Age at death from cemetery records41
Place of burialBrookwood Military Cemetery (Plot VIII, Row C, Grave No 3), Surrey, England
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records		Parents: Robert Patrick and Elizabeth Purcell; Wife: Kate Purcell, Minnehaha Avenue, Takapuna
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 26 June 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 22 August 1916, and marched into Sling Camp, 23 August 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 26 September 1916; joined Bn, in the field, 12 October 1916.

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 23 October 1916; discharged to unit, 26 October 1916 (no details recorded).

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 5 February 1917 (bronchitis); transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 11 February 1917; to No 3 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, 14 February 1917; to No 7 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 18 February 1917; to Base Depot, Etaples, 3 March 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 15 March 1917.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 17 May 1917 (bronchitis), and transferred to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, Divisional Rest Station; discharged to Reinforcements Camp, 18 May 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 27 May 1917.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 23 June 1917; transferred to No 3 Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne, 25 June 1917 (myalgia); to 14th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 4 July 1917.

Posted to 2nd Bn, Wellington Infantry Regiment, 16 July 1917.

Admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, from France, 25 July 1917 (myalgia); transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 30 August 1917.

Found guilty of being absent without leave from 9.30 pm, 30 September, until 10 pm, 5 October 1917: forfeited 3 days' gross pay, and 6 days' pay under Royal Warrant.

Run over by motor bus in London and accidentally killed while on leave from NZ Command Depot, Codford, 16 November 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 34, p. 5
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 20803392