Robert Clark FINLAY

Regimental number2/2408
Date of birth17 December 1888
Place of birthCumberland, England
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationButcher
Address184 Tinakori Road, Wellington
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 5"
Weight128 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Finlay, 120 Hensingham, Whitehaven, England
Previous military serviceServed for 5 years in the Territorial Force, England.
Enlistment date23 August 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationGunner
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 8th Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Artillery
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board Willochra on 13 November 1915
Final rankCorporal
Final unitNew Zealand Field Artillery
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 12 April 1919
Discharge date21 July 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 20 December 1915.

Transferred to 8th Battery, 8 March 916.

Embarked Alexandria for France, 7 April 1916.

Appointed Acting Bombardier, 30 March 1917.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 21 April 1917 (venereal disease: gonorrhoea), and relinquished rank of Acting Bombardier; transferred same day to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station; to No 7 Convalescent Depot, 23 April 1917; admitted to 51st General Hospital, Etaples, 24 April 1917; discharged to Base Details, 13 June 1917; marched in to XXII Corps Reinforcements Camp, 29 January 1918; rejoined 9th Battery, in the field, 18 April 1918.

Appointed Temporary Bombardier, 14 June 1918; Temporary Corporal, 27 August 1918.

On leave to United Kingdom, 18 September 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 8 October 1918.

Promoted Corporal, 18 October 1918.

Granted leave with pay, 6 February-5 March 1919; leave without pay, 6 March to 2 April 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand on board SS 'Pakeha', 12 April 1919; discharged, 21 July 1919 (no longer physically fit or War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service), 21 July 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 334 days (of which 3 years 200 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Field Artillery/Eighth
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805