Sapper James Wyllie (1884-1968).
1NZEF Service # 4/2018; Sapper, New Zealand Engineers, 10th Reinforcements, 1NZEF.
Born 28 August 1884 - at Scotland.
Son of J. Wyllie - of Black Byre, Fenwick, Ayreshire, Scotland.
Address at enlistment : 56 Waimea Street, Nelson.
Next of kin at enlistment : Mr G. Flemming (friend), Collingwood Street, Nelson.
Prior to enlistment for war service James Wyllie was employed as an Engineer - at Kershaw's Engineering Works, Nelson.
James Wyllie enlisted for war service on 16 November 1915 - at Nelson.
He was 32 years of age.
At enlistment he was posted as a Sapper with the New Zealand Engineers, 10th Reinforcements, 1NZEF.
Sapper Wyllie served at Egypt (1916) and France & Belgium (1916-1917).
In March 1916 Sapper Wyllie left New Zealand - for overseas war service - aboard troop transport ship HMNZT 47 or 48 - 'Willochra' or 'Tofua'. He disembarked at Suez on 10 April 1916.
On 13 April 1916 Sapper Wyllie embarked from Egypt for war service at France.
On 3 July 1916 Sapper joined his unit - the New Zealand Engineers No 1 Company 1NZEF - at the front line in Armentieres, France.
On 4 March 1917 Sapper Wyllie was wounded in action at France (serious gun shot wound to right leg and gunshot wound to right shoulder).
He was admitted - on 5 March 1917 - to the No 3 (NZ) Field Ambulance in the field - and then transferred - on 7 March 1917 - to the No 2 Australia Casualty Clearing Station - in the field at France.
One day later - on 8 March 1917 - he was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital. Whilst there his right leg was amputated.
On 9 March 1917 James Wyllie was medically evacuated to hospital at England - where he was admitted to the NZ Military Hospital at Brockenhurst, England.
At Brockenhurst he was fitted with an artificial limb (right leg) - which he had, himself, designed and later patented.
On 12 October 1918 Sapper Wyllie was classified as medically unfit for further war service - due to his wounds.
On 8 December 1918 Sapper Wyllie embarked for New Zealand - from England - aboard SS 'Ruahine'.
Sapper Wyllie arrived at Auckland on 27 January 1919.
On 11 April 1919 Sapper Wyllie was discharged from the 1NZEF - because of his wounds.
James Wyllie died - 25 October 1968 - at Nelson.
He is buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson City : Grave ref: Block 02; Plot 055A.
Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 12 February 2022 - Military File