THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MAY 1916 TO NOVEMBER 1918 A CONTEMPORARY DIARY OF PILGRIMAGES IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS April 2002 and July 2005 Revised Edition 2005 JOHN H GRAY Christchurch, New Zealand
[email protected] THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS MAY 1916 TO NOVEMBER 1918 A CONTEMPORARY DIARY OF PILGRIMAGES IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS APRIL 2002 AND JULY 2005 Revised Edition 2005 JOHN H GRAY Christchurch, New Zealand
[email protected] In Memory of Three Uncles All of whom served in the Infantry on the Western Front All of whom were wounded – All of whom survived 8/385 Second Lieutenant Everard Piercie GRAY (1888-1964) The Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force Holder of The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-19, Victory Medal and Gallipoli Medallion. Enlisted in 8th (Southland) Coy, Otago Infantry Battalion as private 13 Aug 1914; embarked in Main Body at Port Chalmers on 15 Oct 14; Canal Zone Egypt, then Gallipoli- promoted corporal on 14 Aug 15; twice wounded, evacuated and re-joined; returned Egypt and promoted sergeant on 18 Mar 16; embarked for France on 6 Apr 16 in 1st Otago; present in Armentieres Sector May- Aug 16; at Battle of Flers-Courcelette (Somme) Sep-Oct 16;in Sailly sur Lys sector Oct-Dec 16; marched out to Codford (England ) in the cadre of experienced NCOs on formation 4th NZ Infantry Brigade, on transfer to 3rd Otago on 28 Mar 17; to France on 28 May 17 – present at Ploegsteert Wood & The Lys from 10 Jun 17; to #4 OCTU in Oxford (England) on 22 Jul 17; commissioned second-lieutenant on 27 Nov 17 in The Canterbury Regiment; embarked Liverpool on 13 Feb 18 on duty to New Zealand; to Trentham Military Camp as an instructor to 41st to 44th Reinforcements; finally demobilised 22 Oct 19.