Scarce NZEF pair to Tasmanian-born David Champ, who served on the Western Front with the NZ Tunnelling Company in 1916 and 1917.

 

David Champ was born 28th December 1895 at Tasmania, Australia. Son of James and Harriet Sarsh Champ (née Carey). David seems to have struggled with work, being charged with vagrancy in 1913, whilst living in Tasmania. He subsequently came to New Zealand, where he worked as a labourer for the Public Works Department. David enlisted in 1915 and was posted to the NZ Tunnelling Company. He served on the Western Front from March to July 1916 before being evacuated to the UK suffering from jaundice. He returned to his unit in July 1917, but the following month was hospitalised once again. He was evacuated to the UK in late September 1917, where he remained until the end of the war.

 

David married Nellie Louisa Trippick whilst in England in 1918. Following the war, David found himself in trouble once again, this time being convicted of being idle and disorderly at Kaikoura. Of note his description in the 1921 NZ Police Gazette mentioned his left forearm bore the tattoo "N.Z.E.", so he was clearly proud of his service with the NZ Engineers. During the Second World War David served with Z Company at Lake Coleridge, and received the 1939/45 War Medal and New Zealand War Service Medal in 1950. David Champ died at Christchurch, New Zealand on 4th June 1956.

 

Both medals are correctly impressed  4/1412 SPR. D. CHAMP. N.Z.E.F.