The 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal group to 10/774 James Alexander Pettigrew, who served with Taranaki Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion on Gallipoli throughout the intense battles of August 1915.

 

James Pettigrew was born 5th November 1892 at Pigeon Bay, Banks Peninsula. Son of George and Mary Ann Elizabeth Pettigrew (née White). At the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in August 1914 he was working as a butcher in Hawera. James was posted to the Taranaki Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion (under Lt-Col. William Malone), and sailed with the Main Body in October 1915. At the time of the landing on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 James was sick in hospital and so didn't arrive on the peninsula until 9th May 1915. He served in the field over the next four months, including the intense battles of August 1915 where the Wellingtons made their name, and suffered huge losses, during the capture and defence of Chunuk Bair. James was invalided off Gallipoli in September 1915, suffering from enteritis, and evacuated to the UK. He had evidently suffered greatly whilst on Gallipoli as he was not fit enought to leave the convalescent hospital until after August 1916. James was posted to the Anzac Provost Corps and promoted to corporal in November 1916. He remained in the UK, at Codford, for the remainder of the war. In June 1918 he was found with the forged railway pass, court martialled and reduced to the ranks. Just two months later he was re-appointed lance-corporal, and in February 1919 embarked for New Zealand for discharge.

 

In October 1917 James had married Alice Mary Reed at Romford, Essex. They went on to have a family of two daughters (a son born in 1929 died in infancy). The family ran a farm at Pihama for many years. James served as an officer in the Home Guard during the Second World War, and so is likely entitled to the New Zealand War Service Medal only.

 

James Pettigrew died 30th August 1958 at Manaia, South Taranaki and is buried in the RSA section of Manaia Cemetery.

 

All three medals are correctly impressed 10/774 PTE. J.A.PETTIGREW. N.Z.E.F. (Star) and 10/774 L/CPL. J.A. PETTIGREW. N.Z.E.F. (BWM and VM)

Service File held at Archives New Zealand

Small Service File held at Archives New Zealand