James Michael EGAN

Regimental number4/2079
Date of birth2 February 1891
Place of birthSpringston, Canterbury
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationRailway clerk
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 8.5"
Weight138 lbs
Next of kinFather, Edward Egan, Railway Station, Gore
Previous military serviceServed in the NZ Engineers Railway Corps; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date15 December 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationSapper
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 11th Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Engineers, No 1 Field Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 1 April 1916
Members of the 11th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships, HMNZT 49 'Maunganui' and HMNZT 50 'Tahiti'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankSapper
Final unitNew Zealand Engineers
Discharge date26 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 2 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria, 29 May 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 9 June 1916.

Forfeited 1 day's pay, Christchurch, 18 June 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 22 September 1916.

Attached to NZ Division, in the field, 16 January 1917; posted to No 1 Field Company Engineers, 19 January 1917.

Attached to Headquarters, Divisional Engineers, 19 May 1917.

Found guilty, 25 July 1917, of when on Active Service being absent without leave from 9 pm, 22 May, until 8.30 am, 25 May 1917 (83½ hours): awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 4 days' pay.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 16 July 1917 (ametrophia); discharged to NZ Reinforcements Camp, 18 July 1917; rejoined unit, 20 July 1917.

Found guilty, 8 August 1917, of being absent from billet from 9.30 am, 8 August 1917: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 1 day's pay.

Admitted to 2/1 East Lancashire Field Ambulance, 30 November 1917 (eye trouble), and transferred same day to 10th Casualty Clearing Station; to 50th Casualty Clearing Station, 4 December 1917; discharged to duty, 10 December 1917; rejoined unit same day.

On leave to United Kingdom, 28 July 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 15 August 1918.

Detached to Headquarters, Divisional Engineers, 9 September 1918; rejoined unit, 22 September 1918.

Detached to Commander Royal Engineers (New Zealand), 29 September 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Tilbury on board 'Tofua', 29 May 1919; discharged, 26 June 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 194 days (of which 3 years 59 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 28, p. 25
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805