5/766 Driver George Phillip Eyton NZEF
5/ Pair and Sports Medallion - Eyton
The British War Medal and Victory Medal group to 5/766 Driver George Phillip Eyton, NZ Army Service Corps together with a 1916 BEF sports medallion for 1st place in a tug-of-ewar competition.
George Eyton was born 21st April 1890 at Matakana, New Zealand. Son of William Joseph and Polly Victoria Charlotte Eyton (née Price). At the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in October 1915 he was working as a farm hand at Matakana. He embarked in early 1916 with a detachment of No. 5 Company, NZ Army Service Corps. After initially serving in Egypt he transferred to France, and in April 1916 was appointed as a baker. He served in this capacity throughout the entire war on the Western Front. As the saying goes - an army marches on its stomach - and it was men like George Eyton that enabled the New Zealand Division to remain the highly efficient fighting formation it was. He returned to New Zealand in 1919 for discharge. After the war he married Ellen Nesham Ferguson, and farmed at Horokeke. He died 13th December 1968 at Whangarei, and is buried in the services section of Maunu Cemetery.
Both medals are correctly impressed 5/766 DVR. G.P. EYTON. N.Z.E.F. and the sports medallion, whilst not named to Eyton, is nicely engraved and hallmarked.