Edmund Francis WITTHAUS

Regimental number36799
Date of birth21 October 1891
Place of birthEngland
ReligionMethodist
OccupationFarmer
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation24.7
Height5' 5.5"
Weight141 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs E M Witthaus, c/o Mrs V Langdon, 143 Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay, Wellington
Previous military serviceServed in 6th (Hauraki) Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date20 September 1916
Rank on embarkationSergeant
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 24th Reinforcements (1st Draft), E Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Devon on 5 April 1917
Final rankSergeant
Final unitWellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 17 April 1919
Discharge date2 June 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 5 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 11 June 1917, and marched in to Sling Camp.

Promoted Corporal, 11 July 1917.

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

Wounded in action, 3 October 1917 (gun shot wound, right arm); admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance,3 October 1917; transferred to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 3 October 1917; to 20th General Hospital, Camiers, 4 October 1917; to England, 7 October 1917, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 8 October 1917; transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 7 November 1917; to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 1 December 1917.

Detailed to attend School of Instruction, Chelsea Barracks, 15 July 1918; appointed Temporary Sergeant while attending School of Instruction; rejoined Wellington Infantry Regiment, Sling Camp, 12 August 1918.

Promoted Sergeant, 1 October 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board HMNZT 'Remuera', 17 April 1919; discharged (termination of period of engagement), 2 June 1919.

Total war service: 2 years 258 days (of which 2 years 31 days were abroad).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 59, p. 13
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805