David Smith RITCH

Regimental number62389
Date of birth23 August 1889
Place of birthEngland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationMotor mechanic
Marital statusMarried
Height5' 8.5"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs V Ritch, Wilson Street, Cambridge
Enlistment date24 May 1917
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 30th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT No 93 Corinthic on 13 October 1917
Final rankLance Corporal
Final unitCanterbury Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 2 December 1918
Discharge date18 March 1919
Other details

Embarked Wellington, 13 October 1917; disembarked Liverpool, England, 8 December 1917.

Qualified First Class Signaller, 24 April 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 8 May 1918; joined 1st Entrenching Bn, 12 May 1918.

Transferred to 2nd Entrenching Bn, 19 May 1918.

Transferred to 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 13 June 1918.

Admitted to hospital, 20 July 1918; rejoined unit from hospital, 25 July 1918 (no details recorded).

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 30 August 1918 (debility), and transferred to 29th Casualty Clearing Station; to General Hospital, Rouen, 6 September 1918; to England, 10 September 1918, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 11 September 1918; forfeited 1 day's pay, 14 October 1918, for being absent without leave; discharged to NZ Depot, Torquay, 5 November 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Liverpool on board HMNZT 'Maunganui', 2 December 1918; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service: nephritis), 18 March 1919.

War service: 1 year 299 days (of which 1 year 89 days was abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 72, p. 10
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 20806162