New Zealand WW1 BWM to 30238 Pte. T. F. Lawless N.Z.E.F - 2nd Batt, CIR & No.2/No.3 NZ Ent Batt.
A single, full size, silver WW1 British War Medal to 30238 Private Thomas Francis Lawless of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
Thomas' medal is correctly impressed with his details to the rim.
He was a labouror, for a Mr T Knight of Raurimu, North Island, New Zealand (Raurimu is an area just off the side of NZ Tongariro National Park in the center of the North Island). He lists a friends address in Raurimu, and his mother as next of kin, who is in Victoria, Australia. Thomas was born in Victoria, Australia.
He starts his service on the 21st of Aug 1916, as part of F Coy, 20th (2nd Battalion) New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements and goes on to serve 3 years and 7 days overseas in the UK, France and the Western Front, initially with the 2nd Batt, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, but is transferred to No.2 and then No.3 New Zealand Entrenching Battalion's.
Numerous infractions with the Army recorded, from stealing and riding a horse, to breaking out of camp and even breaking out of detention, while under arrest! He lived up to his surname....;-)
His record is a interesting read.
He was finally discharged on the 10th of Feb 1920.
He was also entitled to a Victory medal, of which, I do not know his where-a-bouts. His medals look to have been dispatched to him in 1924, but were actually collected in 1936.
His BWM is in good, but dull, uncleaned condition. Though impressed with Thomas' details, the rim is hard to read.