Charles COLSTON

Regimental number2/860
Date of birth23 December 1894
Place of birthSydney, New South Wales, Australia
ReligionPresbyterian
Address48 Maitland Street, Dunedin
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 10"
Weight151 lbs
Next of kinFather, Alexander Colston, 48 Maitland Street, Dunedin
Previous military serviceServed in 2nd Company, NZ Garrison Artillery; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date20 October 1914
Rank on embarkationGunner
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 2nd Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Artillery
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 14 December 1914
No 1 Field Artillery Brigade left New Zealand on board 'Willochra'; No 4 Howitzer Battery on board 'Knight of the Garter'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankGunner
Final unitNew Zealand Field Artillery
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 27 March 1919
Discharge date18 February 1920
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoloi, Western Front

Wounded in action, Gallipoli, 9 August 1915 (gun shot wound, right leg); disembarked from HS 'Itonus', and admitted to St George's Hospital, Malta, 14 August 1915; transferred to England, 13 September 1915, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 21 September 1915. Returned to Egypt,16 February 1916, and taken on strength, 9th Battery, Moascar, 1 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria for France, 7 April 1916.

Found guilty, 26 November 1916, of being absent from billet, 4 pm to 10.05 pm: confined to barracks for 4 days and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 4 April 1917 (scabies),and transferred same day to North Casualty Clearing Station; discharged to duty, 16 April 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 23 April 1917.

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 30 April 1917 (scabies); transferred to 50th Casualty Clearing Station, 1 May 1917; to North Casualty Clearing Station, same day; discharged to duty, 31 May 1917; rejoined 2nd Battery, 1 June 1917.

Admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance, 3 July 1917, and transferred same day to 11th British Casualty Clearing Station (inflamed connective tissue, right leg); to 54th General Hospital, 8 July 1917; to 5th General Hospital, Rouen, 24 July 1917; to England, 27 July 1917, and admitted to No 1 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst, 28 July 1917. Transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 7 September 1917; discharged on leave, 27 September 1917, to report to NZ Field Artillery Reserve Depot, Aldershot, 12 October 1917.

Found guilty, 23 January 1918, of being absent without leave from 10 pm, 27 December 1917, to 2.15 pm, 23 January 1918: awarded 28 days' detention, deprived of 28 days' pay (net rate) and 28 days' pay (gross rate).

Released from detention, 2 February 1918 (21 days' sentence remitted), and proceeded overseas to France.

Admitted to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 16 August 1918, and transferred same day to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station; to No 6 Convalescent Depot, Etaples, 27 August 1918; to 5th Division Rest Camp, 4 September 1918; rejoined 2nd Battery, in the field, 3 October 1918.

Found guilty, 22 February 1919, of being absent without leave from 2330, 14 February, to 1600, 20 February 1919: forfeited 12 days' pay (gross rate) and 6 days pay (net rate).

Commenced return to New Zealand from Liverpool on board 'Kiaora', 27 March 1919; discharged, 6 June 1919.

Enlisted, 17 September 1919, for Samoan Relief Reinforcement.

Disembarked Apia, 19 October 1919; posted to Mounted Infantry (date not recorded); appointed Temporary Corporal, 1 December 1919; transferred to Machine Gun Section, 6 December 1919; discharged, 18 February 1920.

Total war service: 5 years 21 days (of which 4 years 256 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Field Artillery/Second Parents: Alexander and Sarah Colston (both b. Sunderland, England)
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805