WEBB, William Thomas +

Son of Thomas Webb & Rosina Wilmshurst

b. 1890 NZ - d. 1917 at sea

World War I, 1914-1918

France (10 months, 1917)

William enlisted on 1 May 1916 at Trentham, Upper Hutt. He was recorded as being single, 25.9 years of age, 5', 7½" tall, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His occupation was farmer, his last employer being F Newland of Stratford, Taranaki (possibly a relative). His next of kin was Thos. Webb (father), Milford Road, Palmerston North.

He sailed to Plymouth, Devon, England aboard the 'Mokoia' on 21 August 1916, disembarking on 24 October.

William contracted typhoid on active service in France. Symptoms manifested on 3 September 1917 and he was taken to No 7 General Hospital in St Ower. He was evacuated from France on 28 September and admitted to Oatlands Park in Surrey, England on the 29th. (In 1916 the Oatlands Park Hotel was requisitioned by the War Office for use as an auxiliary hospital to the No 2 New Zealand General Hospital, a mile north-east in Walton-on-Thames. The Oatlands Park Hospital accommodated medical and tuberculosis cases. It was also a rehabilitation centre for servicemen who had lost a limb). From there William was sent to the No 2 New Zealand General Hospital.

He was found to be permanently unfit for war service and earmarked to return to New Zealand. He died on 21 December aboard the 'Marama'.

Source: Military documents