THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

WELLS, Edwin Royden

9/1381, Lieutenant, Otago Mounted Rifles, WW1

CITATION

Military Cross

Gazetted 17 September 1917, p9592

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his party through heavy shell-fire in an attempt to gain information. Finding it impossible to take his men farther owing to machine-gun fire, he went forward alone, gaining valuable and definite information, and by his fine leadership and good judgement finally withdrawing his troop with very few casualties.

KNOWN AWARDS

Military Cross

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

NOTES

Born 20 May 1887

Died 30 August 1950 Wellington, New Zealand

Cremated Wellington (Crem Ref 9987)

Edwin was a member of the Otago Mounted Rifles and finished the war with the rank of Captain.  Following his service on the Western Front he was "shoulder tapped" for service with Dunster Force in Mesopotamia and the near east.  Dunster Force was the forerunner of the Long Range Desert Group (WW2) and todays Sprcial Air Service (SAS).