Husband of Arapera; father of Ann, Kirsten, Colleen, Tamai

Medical Orderly to Medical Officer of 4 Reserve Mechanical Transport Company

Tangi held at Omahu Marae, Hastings

Listed as Jack on the Nominal Roll

'Tying in with 4 Brigade's task was 4 RMT. Operating platoons, which on 1 May had changed designation from letters to numbers (A Platoon becoming No. 1 Platoon), carted material for road builders, explosives, rations, working parties, stores, gravel for 9 New Zealand Railway Survey Company, prefabricated huts, ice, and even potatoes and fertiliser by the ton. And, for good measure, a few Bren carriers (3 tons 13 cwt.) as well. One break from this work came with a ceremonial parade at Wavell Barracks, Baalbek, when General Freyberg presented awards won by the NZASC in the Second Libyan Campaign. A less formal parade later ‘of dogs in charge of company personnel’ eliminated all mascots and pets except ‘Acker’ and ‘Ben’, in charge respectively of Driver Barnes, 3 Platoon, and Driver Huggins, 4 Platoon. An unfortunate accident happened at this time when Driver Foster, of 3 Platoon, fell to his death from a top-story window in the Rayak barracks. These included: Captain R. E. Rawle, MC; 2 Lieutenant A. B. Cottrell, MC; Sergeant R. G. Aro, MM; Sergeant M. K. Gibbs, MM; Sergeant N. J. Prichard, MM; and Driver A. H. Waddick, MM.' (Source: Henderson, J. 4th and 6th Reserve Mechanical Transport Companies. pp. 177.) AWMM