Wilfred ATKINSON

Regimental number8/3820
Date of birth15 December 1887
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSalesman
Height6' 0.25"
Weight194 lbs
Next of kinFather, E A Atkinson, Ouse Street, Oamaru, Otago
Previous military serviceServed for 6 years in the Queen's Rifles (3 years as Sergeant) (unit since disbanded).
Rank on embarkationCorporal
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 9th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board SS Maunganui on 8 January 1916
Discharge date21 October 1919
Other details

Promoted Sergeant, Trentham Camp, 4 January 1916.

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Disembarked Suez, 14 February 1916; joined Bn and posted to 10th Company, 7 March 1916.

Reverted to the ranks (date not legible).

Promoted Sergeant, 1 April 1916.

Admitted to 2nd NZ Field Ambulance, 5 July 1916; rejoined Bn, 18 July 1916.

Found guilty by Field General Court Martial, 1 September 1916, of when on Active Service permitting Pte AJ CLARK and Pte JF BUTCHER, two persons committed to his charge, to escape, 22 August 1916; when on Active Service conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, while in charge of a guard, 22 August 1916, permitting prisoners committed to his charge to become inebriated: sentenced to be reduced to the rank of Corporal.

Admitted to 3rd NZ Field Ambulance, 4 September 1916 (scabies); transferred same day to 39th Casualty Clearing Station; discharged to duty, 30 September 1916; rejoined Bn, 4 October 1916.

Promoted Sergeant, 7 October 1916.

Detached to Corps School, Corbecque, 28 January-7 February 1917: qualified in bayonet fighting ('very fair') and physical instruction ('very fair').

Wounded in action (gun shot wound, right hand) and admitted to 76th Field Ambulance, 8 June 1917; transferred same day to 77th Field Ambulance; to 75th Field Ambulance, 12 June 1917; to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 23 June 1917; to England, 25 June 1917, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames; transferred to Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, 20 October 1917. Discharged on furlough, 18 June 1918; marched in to Sling Camp, 1 August 1918.

Admitted to 3rd NZ General Hospital (Venereal Section), 17 September 1918; discharged, 23 November 1918; readmitted (Venereal Section), 24 November 1918; discharged, 8 January 1919.

Admitted to Military Hospital, Tidworth, 4 February 1919 (influenza); transferred to Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, 28 February 1919.

Transferred to Education Department, 7 April 1919, and appointed Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Reverted to Sergeant at own request, 4 July 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board SS 'Tainu', 8 August 1919; disembarked Wellington, 21 September 1919; discharged, 21 October 1919.

Total war service: 4 years 46 days (of which 3 years 259 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death4 August 1971
Age at death83
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 21, p. 28
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805

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