William George CAVENETT

Regimental number12/324
Date of birth17 August 1889
Place of birthPort Pirie, South Australia, Australia
ReligionPresbyterian
AddressStirling Hotel, Waihi
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 9"
Weight145 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs J Cavenett, Queen Street, Solomontown, Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 4.5 years in the Australian Light Horse. Medical report, 13 August 1914: 'Fit for foreign service provided he wears a well fitting truss.'
Rank on embarkationPrivate
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.
Medals

Distinguished Conduct Medal

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This man was with the corps mounted troops in the vanguard of the division, which met considerable resistance from a redoubt. Single-handed he worked his way round to the rear, and despite the fact that he was fired on at short range by snipers and machine-guns, rushed the post, bayoneting three of the enemy and taking a fourth prisoner.'
Source: 'London Gazette'
Date: 5 December 1918

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked for Gallipoli, 16 June 1915.

Embarked to rejoin unit at Gallipoli, 22 June 1915.

Admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 30 July 1915 (gastritis); transferred same day to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Mudros; to Malta, 5 August 1915, and admitted to Valetta Hospital; to England, and admitted to Fulham Military Hospital, 1 September 1915; discharged to NZ Command Depot, 3 September 1915. Attached to NZ Base Depot, 11 January 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, and marched into NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 7 June 1916.

Admitted to 24th General Hospital, Etaples, 16 June 1916 (venereal disease); transferred to No 9 Stationary Hospital, 17 June 1916; to 18th General Hospital, Camiers, 30 June 1916; discharged from hospital, 1 July 1916. Admitted to 20th General Hospital, Camiers, 12 July 1916. Rejoined unit, in the field, 19 December 1916.

Admitted to North Midlands Casualty Clearing Station, 23 March 1917 (pyrexia, unknown origin: slight); transferred to England, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 7 April 1917; transferred to Dysentery Depot, Barton, 3 July 1916; to Convalescent Depot, Hornchurch, 18 July 1917; discharged on furlough, 21 July 1917, to report to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 6 August 1917.

Found guilty, 26 August 1917, of being absent without leave from 5 pm, 19 August, to 10 pm, 20 August 1917: forfeited 2 days' pay.

Attached to Anzac Provost Corps, 29 August 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 8 May 1918; joined No 1 Entrenching Bn, in the field, 12 May 1918; transferred to NZ Cyclists' Bn, 16 August 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from London on board 'Ionic', 14 March 1919; discharged, 22 May 1919.

Total war service: 4 years 283 days (of which 4 years 193 days were abroad).

Medals: Distinguished Conduct Medal, 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

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