John Charles WELLS

Regimental number47007
Date of birth28 March 1893
Place of birthLondon, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSailor
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 5.5"
Weight146 lbs
Next of kinFather, J W Wells, 16 King Street, Earn Bay, Kent, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 February 1917
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 24th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 81 Devon on 5 April 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 8 August 1918
Discharge date5 November 1918
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 5 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 11 June 1917, and marched in to Sling Camp. Found guilty, 6 July 1917, of being absent without leave: forfeited 1 day's pay under Royal Warrant, 6 July 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 23 July 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Wellington Infantry Regiment, in the field, 11 August 1917.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 22 November 1917, and transferred to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station (inflamed left knee joint); to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux, 23 November 1917; to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 28 November 1917; to England, 4 December 1917, and admitted to 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea, 5 December 1917; transferred to 1st NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 2 January 1918; to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 12 January 1918.

Absent without leave, 1230 pm, 17 January, until apprehended in London, 7.30 am, 24 January 1918: forfeited 8 days' gross pay, 31 January 1918.

Admitted to 1st NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 29 January 1918; transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 11 March 1918.

Classified 'unfit' by Medical Board, 3 May 1918, and placed on NZ Roll.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board HT 'Paparoa', 8 August 1918; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service: internal derangement of left knee joint), 5 November 1918.

War service: 1 year 265 days (of which 1 year 187 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsParents: John William and Susan WELLS (both b. London, England)
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 59, p. 9
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805