War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 26 September 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 21 November1916, and marched into sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 28 December 1916; marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 29 December 1916.

On leave to St Malo, 20 January 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Wellington Infantry Regiment, in the field, 5 February 1917.

French Minister of the Navy declared him a deserter from the French Navy, to be seized upon cessation of the war.

French Government Despatch to Rear Admiral commanding the Navy at Brest, 23 February 1917: ' ... You have forwarded to me the brief of Duval (Guillaume Joseph Emile) of the district of Saint Malo, a defaulter who has enlisted in the British Army & is presently in the 2nd Battn. Wgtn NZ Division according to a Certificate of the British Military Authorities. I inform you that a Note of the War Office dated June 3rd 1915 forwarded to the General commanding the district has established the principle of equivalence concerning French subjects who can be mobilized who have not joined their appointed unit & who have served in the ranks of an Allied Army during the campaign. The Minister of War, However, has reserved to himself the right of application of this principle to every special case, especially concerning defaulters. By application of the above principle & after investigation about the special situation of Duval, I have decided that this man shall be struck out of the defaulters' list. On his matriculation book, however, notice must be taken on the fact as follows: has enlisted in the British Army, to be seized again at the cessation of hostilities.'

On leave to St Malo, 10 July 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 25 July 1917. Overstayed leave till 24 July 1917: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 3 days' pay.

Wounded in action, 4 October 1917 (gun shot wound, left shoulder), and admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance; transferred same day to 44th Casualty Clearing Station; to No 11 General Hospital, Camiers, 6 October 1917; to No 7 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 13 October 1917. Found guilty, 28 October 1917, of being absent without leave: forfeited 1 day's pay.

Admitted to No 10 Convalescent Depot, Ecault, 3 November 1917. Found guilty, 12 November 1917, of (1) being absent without leave from 9 pm [date?] until apprehended at 8.30 pm, 11 November 1917, (2) having in possession a comrade's [pass?]: forfeited 21 days' pay, and a further 1 day's pay.

Rejoined unit, in the field, 18 December 1917.

Killed in action, 11 February 1918.