James CRAIG

Regimental number12674
Date of birth20 August 1891
Place of birthWaipu
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationTelegraph operator
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation24
Height5' 10"
Weight162 lbs
Next of kinFather, A Craig, Risk Road, Remuera, Auckland
Previous military serviceServed in the Post & Telegraph, No 1 Company, Auckland; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment. Previously served in the Territorial Force.
Enlistment date11 January 1916
Rank on embarkationSapper
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 12th Reinforcements (2nd Draft), New Zealand Signalling Corps
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 6 May 1916
Final rankSapper
Final unitDivisional Signal Company, New Zealand Field Engineers
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 24 December 1918
Discharge date29 April 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 22 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 26 July 1916; disembarked Southampton, England, 7 August 1916, and marched in to NZ Reserve Group, Sling Camp.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 22 May 1917; reverted to the ranks, 16 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 27 June 1917; attached to Royal Engineers Signals Depot, 30 June 1917.

Attached to NZ Reinforcements Camp, in the field, 18 October 1917.

Attached to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 19 October 1917.

Detached to NZ Divisional Reinforcements Camp, in the field, 23 October 1917.

Attached to NZ Wing, 2nd Anzac Reinforcements Camp, in the field, 24 October 1917.

Admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance, 22 January 1918 (diarrhoea: severe); transferred same day to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance; to No 50 Field Ambulance, 23 January 1918; to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station, 28 January 1918; to Ambulance Train No 12, 29 January 1918, and admitted same day to No 14 Stationary Hospital, 29 January 1918 (suspected dysentery); to England, 17 February 1918, and admitted to No 4 London General Hospital. Transferred to NZ Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, 12 April 1918; discharged on leave, 23 April 1918, to report to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 8 May 1918. Admitted to No 3 NZ General Hospital, Codford, 13 May 1918; discharged to Convalescent Depot, 21 May 1918; admitted to No 3 NZ General Hospital, 3 June 1918.

Classified 'Unfit' by Medical Board, and placed on NZ Roll, 24 July 1918.

Married Ivy Meliam Spicer, at Hitchin, 21 October 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board 'Briton', 24 December 1918; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active service: pyelitis), 29 April 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 109 days (of which 2 years 270 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death24 August 1963
Age at death72
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 31, p. 14
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805