8/1361 Clarence Newton Wills, NZEF
BWM - KiA Gallipoli - 8/1361
The British War Medal issued to the next-of-kin of Clarence Newton Wills of the Otago Infantry Battalion, who was killed in action at Dead Man's Ridge in May 1915.
Clarence Wills was born 11th February 1893 at Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. Son of Martin and Mary Jane Wills (née Martin). At the time of his enlistment in October 1914 he was working as a telegraphist for the New Zealand Railways. He had previous Territorial service with the South Island Railway Battalion. He embarked with the 2nd Reinforcements, and landed on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. He subsequently went missing during the desperate battle for the piece of ground between Pope's Hill and Quinn's Post, known as Dead Man's Ridge. The Otago Battalion suffered heavily here during the first few days of May, and it was later determined by Court of Inquiry that Wills had been killed in action during this period. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.
The medal is correctly impressed 8/1361 PTE. C.N. WILLS. N.Z.E.F.