40267 Private Lewis Henry Windleborn
13th Company 2nd Battalion
New Zealand Canterbury Regiment
13th December 1917
Born on 05/10/1893 in Wakapuaka, Nelson, New Zealand. His parents were Henry Joachim Johann Friedrich Wendleborn (04/07/1854-04/12/1930) and Dorothea Sophia Maria Johanna Sigglekow(26/01/1862-06/01/1932). They were married on 18/11/1883.
Lewis had 3 brothers, Percy Herbert(29/07/1885-27/03/1945),Lawrence Christian Frederick(17/12/1897-14/05/1974) and Kenneth Johann(01/07/1901-13/04/1959). He also had a sister, Florence Minnie(22/12/1887-15/01/1946).
Lewis enlisted on 13/11/1916, having previously worked for K Snowden in Wimea West, Nelson as a farmer labourer and was posted to C Company 23rd Reinforcements before gaining promotion the following year on 31/01/1916 to
Lance Corporal.
His journey to England began on 02/04/1917 when he embarked aboard Troopship 80 ,"Corinthic" in Wellington. It was just over a 2 month journey until on 10/06/1917, he was marching into Sling Camp, Wiltshire, where he was to revert to the ranks.
Just under a month later on 06/07/1917, he left Sling for France and in Rouen on 25/07/1917 he was posted to
13th Company, 2nd Canterbury Regiment.
He was killed in action 13/12/1917 and buried in the field( a map refence is given, but is partly illegible, most probably at Polderhoek Chateau, as with Private Vesey),to be later reburied in Polygon Wood Cemetery.
Lewis was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
Nelson Evening Mail – 5 January 1918
Death
Windleborn – killed in action, December 13th, 1917, Private Lewis Henry Windleborn, 23rd Reinforcements, second dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs H.D. Windleborn of Waimea West, aged 24 years.