Brian Lynch Dignan enlisted as a sapper with the New Zealand Field Engineers soon after war broke out and went on to serve in Gallipoli, Egypt and France.

While in Gallipoli, Dignan's actions earned him a Distinguished Conduct Medal. Dignan was part of a group of NZ Field Engineers who established and maintained a telephone line on 7 August 1915 at Chunuk Bair so that importnat messagfes could be relayed between the headquarters trench and The Apex. Dignana was a member of the party that went in front, laying the line as they went. This was done under expecially difficult conditions, as a member of the other party describes:

"We had to make short, sharp dashes under enemy fire, mostly rifle fire from snipers. It was pretty tough [. . .]." ("Bloody Gallipoli: The New Zealander's Story" p 158).

When the line went out, Dignan personally delivered anurgent message as is made clear in a recommendations book that can be found in the National Archives:

"for laying a line on Chunku Bair under heavy fire in daylight on August 7 for carrying back an important despatch in daylight when the line was broken and for repairing lines under heavy fire" ("Bloody Gallipoli: The New Zealander's Story", p 389).

Such bravery marked Dignan as worthy of consideration for a Victoria Cross and, ultimately, he was awarded the DCM, which was announced in the London Gazette on 14 January 1016, the citation appearing on 11 March 1916:

"For conspicuous gallantry on the 7th August, 1915, at Chunuk Bair (Dardanelles), when he laid a telephone line in daylight and under heavy fire, and later, when the line was broken, he carried an important despatch under heavy fire." (London Gazette, 11 March 1916, p 2746. Reproduced in Wayne McDonald, "Honours and Awards to the NZEF in the Great War 1914-1918", p85.)

In 1916, Dignan was also mentioned in despatched by General Ian Hamilton and General Sir C. Munro. As a result of his brave and good service, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 4 July 1917 and Lieutenant on 27 July 1918.

Attended Auckland Grammar School. AWMM