37 YEARS A SOLDIER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 154, 11 April 1930, Page 3

37 YEARS A SOLDIER

S.-M. EDMONDS’ RECORD. ENLISTED AT AGE OF 14. An interesting record of service to bis country is revealed by the presentation of a specially-bound copy of the New Zealand Official Roll of Honour to Sergeant-Major W. Edmonds, who has charge of the Ashburton military district.

In the volume, which was handed over to-day by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, is a photograph ol' the recipient and a record of his service, the latter supplied and signed by LieutColonel R. B. Smytlie (AdjutantGeneral), Wellington. The record shows that Warrant-Officer Class 1 (13.5. M.) W. Edmonds, N.Z.P.S., enlisted in the 2nd Battalion King’s (Shropshire) Light Infantry on December 15, 1592, when he was 1-4 years of age. He was discharged on December 30, 1913, in consequence of the termination of his engagement, his total service then being 21 years 16 days. His service abroad was 12 years 304 days, and lie was on active service in South Africa from 1899 to 1902. Oil discharge from the British Army in India, he was specially selected for service in the New Zealand Permanent Staff, which he joined on December 13, 1913, and in which he is still serving. His service in the Great War was: Embarked with Main Body, October 10, 1914, being C.S.M. in the Canterbury Regiment. He served in Egypt and on Gallipoli, being wounded on May 20, 1915, returned' to New Zealand on January 4, 1916, aud discharged on account of wounds on April 18, 1916. The medals held by him are: Queen’s South African, King’s South African, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Long-Service and Good Conduct Medal (Imperial), Meritorious Service Medal (Colonial), and New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal. His total length of unbroken service to the present date is 37 years 132 days. Also included in the copy of the Roll of Honour was a photograph of the Ashburton War Memorial, with the four Territorials who acted as sentries at the unveiling. They were Q.M. Sergeant S. V. S. Johnston, Lanee-Cor-noral J. S. Quinn, Privates I). R. Leask and J. Miller, To each of these a similar conv of the Roll of Honour was presented last evening. _ Beneath the photograph is the inscription: “Did excellent duty as sentries. I have never seen better.— ''Signed) M. M. Gard’ner, Brigadier. Commanding the Southern Command.” The volumes were handed over by Sir Andrew Russell at the soldiers’ reunion.