New Zealand WW1 BWM to 12027 Spr. B. W. Friis N.Z.E.F - No.1 Field Coy, N.Z.E. - WIA 29/07/1917
A full size, WW1 Silver British War Medal to 12027 Sapper Bert William Friis of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
Bert was a self-employed Bushman living in Dannevirke (a Town in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of the North Island, New Zealand). He lists his Mum as next of kin, also living in Dannevirke. Bert was born in Dannevirke, NZ.
He started his service on the 10th of Jan 1916 as part of the 12th Reinforcement Draft of the NZ Field Engineers.
Bert embarked for overseas in Wellington on the 1st of May 1916.
He disembarked at Suez on the 9th of June 1916.
He embarked at Alexandria on the 26th of July 1916.
He disembarked at Devenport on the 7th of Aug 1916 and marked into Sling to join the NZ Reserve Group.
Bert was admitted to No.1 General Hospital Brokenhurst on the 1st of March 1917 with Measles.
Discharged to Boscombe Camp - NZ Engineers Reserve Depo on the 27th of March 1917.
Left for France on the 2nd of May 1917.
Attached to NZ General Depo Etaples on the 4th of May 1917.
Attached to 2nd ANZAC Division Refit Camp on the 2nd of June 1917.
Attached to his unit No. 1 Field Coy, N.Z.E on the 3rd of June 1917.
Sadly Bert was wounded in action on the 29th of July 1917, with shrapnel wounds to the head and arms.
Admitted to NZ No .3 Field Ambulance.
Admitted to No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on the 30th of July 1917.
Admitted to No. 83 General Hospital on the 1st of Aug 1917.
Transferred to the UK on the 12th of Aug 1917.
Admitted to No. 2 NZ General Hospital Walton-on-Thames on the same day.
On leave in the UK from the 19th of Sept 1917.
Declared as "unfit" by medical board in England on the 24th of Oct 1917.
Embarked for New Zealand on the 16th of Nov 1917.
Discharged as no longer fit due to wounds received in action on the 3rd of Feb 1918.
Bert passed away on the 9th Sept 1958 in Tauranga.
His brother Albert Friis, also served during WW1 in the NZRB -service number 26/1593
Berts BWM is a disc only, and is missing the suspender and ribbon. He was also entitled to a Victory medal, which I do not know the where-a-bouts of. His BWM is in good, uncleaned condition.
His on-line WW1 service file is here online: