10/2539 Lt. Eugene Desire Cachemaille NZEF
MiD/Long Service Group to Engineer
The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal (Mentioned in Despatches) and long service group to Eugene Cachemaille, New Zealand Medical Corps and civil engineer.
Eugene Cachemaille was born 4th April 1873 at Stepney, London. Son of Ernest Peter and Susan Elizabeth Cachemaille (née Wright). He was educated at Sir Roger Cholmey's School in London before completing a City and Guilds Mechanical Engineering course in 1892. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1894, settling in Wanganui. Moving to Wellington, Cachemaille worked as a draughtsman for the Wellington Harbour Board, and from 1908, as Assistant Engineer with the Harbour Board.
Cachemaille enlisted in the NZEF in April 1915, and was posted to the Wellington Infantry Battalion in the rank of corporal. He embarked with the 6th Reinforcements. His record shows he served at Gallipoli, but dates are unknown. In 1916 Cachemaille transfered to the Divisional Sanitary Section (part of the New Zealand Medical Corps), and was promoted to sergeant. He was promoted to staff sergeant in June 1916, and in 1917 was mentioned in despatches (L.G. 1/6/1917): This N.C.O. has performed excellent work in connection with sanitation in the area occupied by this Division. He has commonly worked from 8 a.m. to 10 and 11 p.m. and has performed his duties both conscienciously and efficiently. His knowledge and sanitary engineering has been invaluable in this work. He devotion to his exacting duties and the efficiency with which he has performed them ae thoroughly worthy of recognition. He has continued to carry out these duties during the period 21st September 1916 to 25th February 1917.
In October 1918 Cachemaille was commissioned as lieutenant, whilst remaining with the Divisional Sanitary Section. He returned to New Zealand in 1919, and was discharged from the NZEF. He was absorbed into the General (Unattached) List until 1921, when he was promoted to captain and posted to the New Zealand Medical Corps. He served with the 2nd Field Ambulance, NZMC for the next ten years. He was awarded the NZ Territorial Service Medal in 1923 and the NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal in 1929 (GO 1929/421). He was posted to the Retired List in 1935. In 1937 he was a recipient of the King George VI Coronation Medal. He died 18th February 1952 in Wellington. He is memorialised at St Paul's Cathedral, Wellington, where he was a long-serving chorister and vicar's warden.
1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal w/MiD Oakleaf device, all correctly impressed LT. E.D. CACHEMAILLE. N.Z.E.F., 1937 King George VI Coronation Medal unofficially engraved ED CACHEMAILLE, NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal correctly impressed (CAPT E.D. CACHEMAILLE. N.Z.M.C.), NZ Territorial Service Medal correctly impressed (CAPT E.D. CACHEMAILLE. N.Z.M.C.)
The group is currently mounted in a frame, but may be removed if the buyer wishes to purchase the medals only.