The Memorial Cross issued to the next-of-kin of 30360 Private Thomas Wells, 22 Battalion, 2nd NZEF. Wounded in Libya in 1941, dying of his wounds 14th December 1941.

 

Thomas Wells was born 10th July 1915 at Rakaia, Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of George Robert and Emily Jane Wells (née Goulds). Prior to the Second World War Thomas was working as a labourer iat Rakaia before moving up to the Whakatu Meat Works near Hastings, where he worked as a meat boner. It was from here that he enlisted for service in 1940. Wells  sailed with the Second Echelon in May 1940, and subsequently saw service in Greece and Crete.

 

Wells was wounded in Libya in December 1941, subsequently dying of his wounds on 14th December 1941. He is commemorated on the Alamein Memorial. This would suggest his body was not recovered, but the circumstances of his death require further research (service file has not been obtained from Base Records, Trentham).

 

The Memorial Cross is impressed 30360 PTE. T. WELLS and comes in the box of issue with a length of purple ribbon.