William Stephen WELLS

Regimental number12/666
Date of birth11 April 1894
Place of birthOnehunga
ReligionMethodist
OccupationSchool teacher
AddressWhareora, Whangarei
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 9"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinS I Wells, Trafalgar Street, Onehunga
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in Teacher Training Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date14 August 1914
Place of enlistmentWhangarei
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Auckland Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914
The Auckland Infantry Battalion in the Main Body left New Zealand on board two ships, HMNZT 8 ('Star of India') and HMNZT 12 ('Waimana'). It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankSergeant
Final unitAuckland Infantry Regiment
Other detailsCertified Teacher under Auckland Board of Education
FateKilled in Action 19 November 1915
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialEmbarkation Pier Cemetery (Special Memorial D. 21), Gallipoli, Turkey
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: S.T. and S.A. Wells, Upper Takaka, Nelson
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Promoted Sergeant, Gallipoli, 25 April 1915.

Admitted to hospital (no date recorded); rejoined unit, 6 August 1915.

Admitted to SS 'Scotia', 16 August 1915 (diarrhoea); transferred to New Zealand General Hospital, Cairo, 26 August 1915 (enteritis); to Special Camp, Zeitoun, 2 September 1915; to New Zealand General Hospital, Cairo, 16 September 1915 (influenza); discharged to Base, Zeitoun, 19 October 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to rejoin unit, 21 October 1915; rejoined unit, Mudros, 28 October 1915.

Killed in action, 19 November 1915.

Buried in Cheshire Ridge, Anzac, 19 November 1915.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Auckland Infantry Batln/Main Body
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22017786

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