William Victor CAIRNS

Regimental number6/1800
Date of birth5 July 1888
Place of birthLeithfield, Canterbury
Address61 Clare Road, St Albans, Christchurch
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 8.5"
Weight145 lbs
Next of kinFather, William J Cairns, 61 Clare Road, St Albans, Christchurch
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date7 January 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 4th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 21 Willochra on 17 April 1915
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment
Discharge date30 May 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined Bn at Gallipoli, 8 June 1915.

Wounded in action, 20 August 1915; admitted to 15th Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 21 June 1915; discharged, 2 July 1915; rejoined unit at Gallipoli, 7 July 1915.

Admitted to Hospital Ship, Gallipoli, 8 August 1915 (enteritis); transferred to NZ General Hospital, Cairo, 25 August 1915; to Convalescent Camp, Alexandria, 8 September 1915; to England (date not recorded), and admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, Bristol, 15 October 1915; attached to strength of NZ Base Depot, Grey Towers, 12 January 1916. Rejoined unit, Ismailia, 1 March 1916.

Embarked Port Said for France, 6 April 1916.

Awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, 6 May 1916 (drunkenness).

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 13 June 1916; transferred to Divisional Rest Station, 14 June 1916 (lumbago); to 25th General Hospital, 30 June 1916; to Convalescent Camp, 4 July 1916; to Base Depot, Etaples, 7 July 1916; to 24th General Hospital, 28 October 1916 (rheumatism); to England, 2 November 1916, and admitted same day to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames. Fined 10/- for drunkenness, 9 January 1917. Transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 16 January 1917. Marched in to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 12 September 1917. Marched out to Sling Camp, 6 October 1917. Forfeited 3 days' pay, Sling Camp, 26 November 1917 (drunkenness).

Proceeded overseas to France, 10 October 1918; joined Bn, in the field, 17 October 1918.

Found guilty, Sling Camp, 26 November 1919, of drunkenness: forfeited 3 days' pay.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Glasgow on board 'Paparoa', 1 April 1919; declared by Court of Enquiry on board ship, 17 May 1919, to be absent without leave from 26 April, and to be deficient in kit to the amount of £4-15-3; discharged, 30 May 1919.

Total war service: 4 years 146 days (of which 4 years 39 days were abroad).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Canterbury Infantry Batln/Fourth
Date of death10 May 1952 Christchurch
Age at death63
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805