Archibald James Merle BONAR

Regimental number10/1116
Date of birth24 August 1876
Place of birthHokitika
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSoldier
AddressStratford
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation38
Height5' 11"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinBrother, Vivian Bonar, Commission Agent, Hokitika
Previous military serviceServed in the South African (Boer) War as Lt in the 3rd New Zealand Contingent.
Enlistment date2 September 1914
Rank on embarkationSergeant Major
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 rankCompany Sergeant Major
Final unitWellington Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 28 April 1915
Age at death from cemetery records39
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 75), Gallipoli, Turkey, Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Hon. James Alexander and Ella Margaret Bonar. Native of Hokitika, Greymouth
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Wellington Infantry Batln/Main Body
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 20518725