John Nichol FIDDES

Regimental number40921
Date of birth11 November 1889
Place of birthKurow
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationPainter
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 8"
Weight132 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Fiddes, Duntroon via Oamaru, Otago
Previous military serviceServed in Defence Cadets (Royal).
Enlistment date6 October 1916
Place of enlistmentOamaru
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements, G Company (Unattached)
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington
The New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements left New Zealand on two ships, 'Ruapehu' on 14 March 1917, and 'Corinthic' on 2 April 1917. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which of these ships the members of G Company embarked.
Final rankCorporal
Final unitNo 1 Company, 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Discharge date22 June 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 2 April 1917 [check]; disembarked Devonport, England, 10 June 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 6 July 1917; posted to D Company, 1st Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade, in the field, 9 August 1917.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 19 December 1918 (old sprained ankle), and transferred same day to 36th Casualty Clearing Station; to 55th General Hospital, 22 December 1918; to England, 24 January 1919, and admitted same day to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Brockenhurst; transferred to No 3 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 31 January 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Glasgow on board 'Paparoa', 1 April 1919; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service: constitutional weakness of both ankles; not due to War Service), 22 June 1919.

Total war service: 2 years 220 days (of which 2 years 54 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death23 March 1974 Oamaru
Age at death84
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 57, p. 28
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805