52899 Rifleman William Frederick Terrill
A Company 1st Battalion
3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
5th December 1917
Born on 24/09/1888 in Waitara, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
His parents were Joseph Terrill(03/10/1860-14/12/1912) and Emma Nichols(23/09/1869-04/03/1956).
William had 5 brothers;
James Gordon(15/10/1886-1957),
Norman Victor(15/04/1895-03/10/1978),
Sydney Roy(09/11/1899-17/05/1985),
Leonard Thomas(06/03/1902-05/04/1976) and Colin Elmer Terrill(20/11/1908-13/01/1985).
He also had 5 sisters;
Ethel Mildred(17/02/1891-21/02/1963), Ruby Evelyn(18/03/1883-02/03/1955), Ida Bernice(19/06/1897-10/09/1970), Winfred Gladys(16/06/1904-27/11/1964) and Bessie Dora(20/08/1906-31/01/1970).
In the 1914 NZ Electoral Roll, William was listed as working as a farm hand in Tikorangi.
On 11/02/1916 William married Clarice Honour Rowe(1897-04/03/1926. They had a son,
Eric William(03/02/1917-24/05/2005).
William enlisted in New Plymouth on 18/01/1917. His previous employment was as a farmer for A. Cole, Onaero, Taranaki.
His medical that took place the following day was recorded as the following;
Apparent Age - 28 years 4 Months, Height - 5ft 81/2 inches, Weight - 134lbs.
Chest Measurement - Minimum - 33 inches, Maximum - 37 inches.
Complexion - Dark, Colour of Eyes - Hazel, Colour of Hair - Black.
Religious Profession - Church of England.
He was posted to H company 28th Reinforcements on 12/04/1917 and then later in the same month transferred to
H company 27th Reinforcements on 28/04/1917.
After his training was completed his journey to the Western Front began in Wellington where he embarked for England on 16/07/1917,disembarking 2 months later on 16/09/1917 in Liverpool.
From Liverpool he was marched into Tidworth Camp the same day. He stayed here until Transferring to
Brocton Camp on 27/09/1917.
This was where William was to stay until he was sent to France on 23/10/1917, marching into Etaples Camp
3 days later. A week later on 02/11/1917, he Joined the 1st battalion in Rouen and was posted to A company.
William was killed in action on 05/12/1917.
He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
​
Taranaki Herald - 6 December 1918
Terrill – In Loving Memory of Rifleman William Frederick Terrill, who was killed somewhere in France on December 6, 1917.
We often sit and think of him
When we are all alone.
For memory is the only thing
That grief can call its own.
Time has passed and still we miss him.
Words would fail our love to tell,
But in Heaven we hope to meet him,
Jesus doeth all things well.
Inserted by his loving mother, brothers, and sister
​
His wife later remarried to Frank Yates Lethbridge(1895-1970).