8/17 Pte. William Clement Burdett, NZEF
NZEF Trio - 8/17 Burdett - Wounded Gallipoli
1914/15 Star trio issued to 8/17 William Burdett who was wounded on Gallipoli.
William Burdett was born in 1886 but the birth may have been out of wedlock as it was not registered. He married Annie McItosh in 1912 and at the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in August 1914 he was working as a farm hand near Herbert, North Otago. He embarked with the Main Body and landed on Gallipoli with 10th (North Otago) Company on 25th April 1915.
He suffered a bomb wound during the August offensive, possibly during the chaotic struggle for Chunuk Bair as by 13th August he had been evacuated to Malta. He later transferred to the UK where he remained for the duration of the war. He and Annie were divorced in 1920 and in 1921 he married Sarah Coombes. William Burdett died at Wanganui on 22nd December 1959.
The trio is correctly impressed 8/17 PTE. W.C. BURDETT. N.Z.E.F.