2nd Lieutenant George Henry PRENTICE (1893-1918).
Service # 6/329; 2nd Lieutenant, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Brn 6 February 1893 - at Kent, England.
George was the son of Frederick & Mary Prentice.
Prior to enlistment for war service George Prentice was a Wharf Labourer - at Picton, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
George Prentice enlisted for war service - on 13 August 1914 - at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand.
At enlistment George Prentice was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, NZEF.
On 16 October 1914 George Prentice left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the Main Body NZEF - aboard HMNZ T11 "Athenic" - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Private Prentice dis-embarked from his transport ship, from New Zealand - on 4 December 1914 - at either Suez or Alexandria, Egypt.
Private Prentice left Egypt - in April 1915 - to serve with the ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) Forces - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.
On 10 June 1915 Private Prentice was promoted to the rank of Corporal - at Gallipoli.
Three months later - on 7 September 1915 - Corporal Prentice was wounded in action, at Gallipoli. Two days later - on 9 September 1915 - he was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital, at Cairo, Egypt.
Corporal Prentice recovered from his wounds and returned to his unit - at Egypt.
On 6 April 1916 Corporal Prentice left Egypt for war service at France & Belgium.
Corporal Prentice was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant at France.
2nd Lieutenant Prentice served at France until he was wounded in action - on 27 September 1916 - at the Somme, France. He was medically evacuated from France to England - and he was admitted to Brockenhurst Hospital, England.
On 10 January 1918 2nd Lieutenant Prentice embarked from England to return to New Zealand - aboard SS "Arawa".
On arrival at New Zealand 2nd Lieutenant Prentice was discharged from further military service by the NZEF.
On 23 September 1918 2nd Lieutenant Prentice entered Featherston Military Training Camp at Wairarapa - to take up a position as an Instructor - with the Home Service.
On 18 November 1918 2nd Lieutenant Prentice died of sickness (Influenza) - during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - at Featherston Military Training Camp, Wairarapa Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 25 years of age.
2nd Lieutenant George H. Prentice is buried at Featherston Cemetery, Wairarapa Region (Grave ref: 616). His name appears on the Featherston War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Featherstown township, Wairarapa Region, North Island, New Zealand.
2nd Lieutenant George H Prentice is also remembered ot his hometown in New Zealand - on the Picton War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Picton, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
For 2nd Lieutenant George H. Prentice's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Photo Credit: 2nd Lieut G.H. Prentice : Auckland War Memorial Museum (Auckland, New Zealand).
Photo Credit: Picton War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.
Jenifer Everett