Cyril Douglas GABITES

Regimental number8/1988
Date of birth12 July 1888
Place of birthOamaru
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
Addressc/o Butterworth Bros, Dunedin
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 9"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinFather, R Gabites, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Previous military serviceServed in Officer Training Corps, Canterbury College; unit disbanded.
Enlistment date12 January 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationSergeant
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 24 Maunganui on 13 June 1915
Final rankLieutenant
Final unit1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 3 December 1917
Age at death from cemetery records29
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsButtes New British Cemetery (New Zealand) Memorial, Polygon Wood, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Robert and Mary Emma Gabites, 20 Kipling Avenue, Epsom, Auckland. Native of Oamaru, Otago
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined Bn at Anzac, Gallipoli, 9 August 1915, and posted to 8th Company, and reverted to the ranks.

Promoted Sergeant, 12 August 1915.

Admitted to 6th Casualty Clearing Station, 12 August 1915 (dysentery); transferred by HS 'Neuralia' to Egypt, 12 August 1915, and admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 16 August 1915; rejoined unit, Rest Camp, Lemnos, 16 September 1915.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 6 October 1915 (enteritis); discharged to duty, and rejoined unit, Lemnos, 27 October 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 27 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Embarked Egypt for France, 6 April 1916.

Promoted 2nd Lieutenant, in the field, 26 August 1916.

Posted to 1st Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, 31 August 1916.

On leave to United Kingdom, 9-24 October 1916.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 17 March 1917 (sore penis), and transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station; to North Midlands Casualty Clearing Station, 17 March 1917 (penile sore, primary); discharged to duty, 26 March 1917.

Promoted Lieutenant, 15 March 1917.

Admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 26 June 1917 (debilty), and transferred to Officer's Rest Home; rejoined Bn, in the field, 30 June 1917.

Detached to Corps School, 4 August 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 25 August 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 8 September 1917; rejoined Bn from leave, 21 September 1917.

Attached to Reinforcements Camp, 30 September 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 27 October 1917.

Appointed to temporarily command 14th Company, 4 November 1917; relinquished temporary command, 10 November 1917.

Seconded for duty to 2nd NZ Light Trench Mortar Battery, 20 November 1917.

Killed in action, 3 December 1917.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Infantry Batln/Fifth
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 16784518