Claude Henry Thomas SKELLEY

Regimental number24/1908
Date of birth12 September 1881
Place of birthWellington
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSchoolmaster
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation33.11
Height5' 8.25"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs C H T Skelley, 68 Ellice Street, Wellington
Enlistment date17 October 1915
Rank on embarkation2nd Lieutenant
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4th Reinforcements to 1st and 2nd Battalions, F Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Willochra on 4 March 1916
Harbour records indicate that the actual date of sailing was 5 March 1916.
Final rank2nd Lieutenant
Final unit2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 10 March 1917
Discharge date14 October 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 4 March 1916; disembarked Suez, 10 April 1916.

Embarked Port Said to join the British Expeditionary Force, France, 13 April 1916; attached to Infantry & General Base Depot, Etaples, 28 April 1916; joined 2nd Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade, in the field, 17 May 1916, and posted to D Company.

Attached to 4th Army Infantry School, 10 September 1916.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Stationary Hospital, Amiens, 7 October 1916 (bronchitis, disordered action of the heart); transferred to 8th General Hospital, Rouen, 14 November 1916; to No 8 Michelin Convalescent Camp, Cap Martin, 23 November 1916; to Base Depot, Etaples, 24 December 1916.

Medical Board, 30 December 1916, concluded 'Not fit for General service, suffering from Nervous Debility contracted on Active Service'.

Admitted to 24th General Hospital, Etaples, 31 December 1916 (venereal disease: gonorrhoea); transferred to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 1 January 1917 (gonorrhoea: mild); discharged to Base Depot, 6 January 1917 (urethritis: not venereal).

Admitted to liverpool Merchants Mobile Hospital, Etaples, 8 January 1917 (bronchitis); transferred to England, 14 January 1917, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 16 January 1917 (bronchial catarrh); placed on NZ Roll, 20 January 1917; transferred to Convalescent Home, Brighton, 31 January 1917.

Commenced return to New Zealand on board HT 'Remuera', 10 March 1917; discharged (medically unfit for Active Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service: nervous debility), 14 October 1917.

War service: 2 years 8 days (of which 1 year 56 days was abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death2 February 1962
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 26, p. 30
File 03640232, New Zealand Defence Force Archives, Trentham Military Camp.