William Charles VARCOE

Regimental number46809
Date of birth10 December 1890
Place of birthLintley
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 6"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinFather, T Varcoe, PO Box 64, Lumsden
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date29 November 1916
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 25th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT Tofua on 26 April 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 24 December 1919
Discharge date26 February 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 26 April 1917.

Admitted to Ship's Hospital, 'Tofua', 8 July 1917 (influenza); discharged, 9 July 1917.

Disembarked, Devonport, England, 20 July 1917, and marched in to Sling Camp and posted to B Company, 4th Reserve Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment.

Proceeded overseas to France, 5 September 1917; marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 9 September 1917.

Marched out to Division, 7 October 1917; attached to strength, NZ Rfm and Comp, in the field, 7 October 1917.

Admitted to No 7 General Hospital, St Omer, 17 October 1917 (measles); admitted to No 7 Convalescent Camp, Boulogne, 8 November 1917; admitted No 10 Convalescent Camp, Ecault, 10 November 1917; discharged to No 3 Reinforcement Camp, Ecault, 28 December 1917; attached to strength of NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 31 December 1917.

Attached to strength of NZ Division Wing, XXII Reinforcement Camp, Abeele, 29 January 1918.

Marched out to Works Bn, 11 February 1918.

Posted to and joined B Company, 3rd Bn, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 24 February 1918.

Wounded, 11 September 1918 (gun shot wound, right forearm); admitted to No 10 NZ Field Ambulance and then to No 49 Casualty Clearing Station, 11 September 1918; transferred to No 10 Ambulance Train, 12 September 1918, and admitted No 10 General Hospital, 13 September 1918; embarked for England and admitted No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 14 September 1918; transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, 25 September 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth, England, on board 'Briton', 24 December 1918; disembarked New Zealand, 29 January 1919; discharged, 26 February 1919.

Total war service: 2 years 20 days (of which 1 year 279 days was abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsParents: Tobias (b. England) and Fanny (b. England)
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 62, p. 16
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805