THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

PINKHAM William George Frederick

4/1709, Lance Corporal, Divisional Signals Company, New Zealand Engineers, WW1

822330 3rd Division Service in Pacific, WW2

CITATION

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gazetted 4 March 1918, p2761

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack.  All the forward signal party were casualties except himself, but he went forward alone, finding the battalion commanders together, at once laid a line to them, working with great coolness on an open slope swept with machine-gun fire.  He then brought in his officer, who was wounded, and continued the maintenance of the line.  He showed the greatest gallantry in the execution of his duty on this and many other occasions

Military Medal

Gazetted 9 December 1916, p12058

Action: Capture of Switch Trench, south east of High Wood, 15 September 1916, and following days.  I cannot speak too highly of this Sapper's work as a linesman. He was on duty at the Headquarters of the 2nd Auckland and 2nd Otago Battalions during the fighting on the above dates.  Though he had numerous difficulties to contend with and working under constant shellfire, he managed to put through not only our own Brigade work but also several messages for the 1st and 3rd Brigades.  When the Brigade again went into the frontline Sapper PINKHAM again carried out his difficult duties with the greatest success, and with an utter disregard for his personal safety.  The devotion to duty of the signals staff is beyond all praise.

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Military Medal

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Defence Medal

War Medal 1939-45

New Zealand War Service Medal

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal

New Zealand Territorial Service Medal

NOTES

Born 16 September 1895, Picton, New Zealand

Died 4 April 1975 Auckland, New Zealand

Cremated Purewa Cemetery