49357 Private Patrick Dunford
4th Company 2nd Battalion
New Zealand Oatago Regiment
12th December 1917
Born on 11/06/1893 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
His parents were William Dunford(1854-11/06/1933) and Susan Hegarty(1853-13/11/1921). They were married in 1875.
Patrick had 6 brothers, William(1877-05/10/1951), Thomas(06/03/1879-13/08/1918), David(08/08/1880-09/02/1958).George Lawrence(born in 1885), John(1887-27/07/1923) and James Henry(11/10/1889-14/04/1918).
Patrick also had 7 sisters, Mary(1881-19/01/1966), Ellen(1883-18/03/1930), Susan(1884-07/03/1915), Emily Louisa(1889-27/03/1958), Jane(1893-25/09/1970), Martha Ann(1895-1948) and Teresa Margaret(1897-02/05/1968).
The families home address was 8 Arawa Street, Anderson's Bay, Dunedin.
Before he enlisted on 16/02/1917 in Dunedin, Patrick was working as a carter in his fathers business.
The details of his medical, performed on the same day are as follows;
Apparent Age - 24 years 8 months, Height - 5ft 6inches, Weight - 150lbs, Chest Measurement- Minimum - 35 inches, Maximum - 371/2 inches
Complexion - Fresh, Colour of Eyes - Blue, Colour of Hair - Dark Brown
Distinctive Markings - small scar under left side of the jaw.
Patrick, left New Zealand bound for England on 12/06/1917 aboard SS Tahiti from Wellington, dis-embarking in Devonport on 16/08/1917 and then marched into Sling Camp ,Wiltshire the same day ,where he was posted to
the Otago Regiment.
He left for France just under 2 months later on 14/10/1917, then marching into Etaples camp 2 days later.
Patrick was posted to 2nd Battalion on 24/10/1917.
He was killed in action on 12/12/1917.
Patrick was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
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2 of his brothers were also killed during the war, James was a trooper(68913) with 36th Reinforcements New Zealand Mounted Rifles and was accidently drowned at Moascar, Egypt at 19.00 on 14/04/1918. A court of inquiry that had been convened to investigate his death, ruled that no blame being attached to anyone. He is buried in Ismailia War Cemetery, Egypt, Plot B No.116.
Thomas served as Private(29897) 1st Battalion Auckland Regiment. He was wounded in a raid at Messines, France on 22/06/1917, receiving gunshot wounds in the left thigh and a compound fracture. The wounds were considered serious and he was invalided out of the army and returned home and was still receiving medical attention in Dunedin Hospital, when he died on 13/08/1918. He is buried in Dunedin(Anderson's Bay) Cemetery.