Lance Sergeant Donovan Lewis REES (1893-1915).

NZEF Service # 6/333; Lance Sergeant, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 12th (Nelson) Company, Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).

Born 11 July 1893 - at Greytown, Wairarapa Region, North Island, New Zealand.

Donovan was the son of John & Alice Rees - of Blenheim, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.

Prior to enlistment for war service Donovan Rees was a Plumber - employed by F.W. Adams - at Blenheim.

Donovan Rees enlisted for war service - on 15 August 1914 - at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand. He was 21 years of age.

At enlistment Donovan Rees was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, Main Body, NZEF.

On 16 October 1914 Private Rees left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the Main Body NZEF - aboard HMNZ T11 'Athenic' - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.

Six weeks later - on 3 December 1914 - Private Rees disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - at Alexandria, Egypt.

In late April or early May 1915 Private Rees was sent to serve with the ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) forces - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.

On 17 May 1915 Private Rees was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant - at Gallipoli.

Lance Sergeant Donovan L. Rees served, with the ANZAC forces, at Gallipoli until he was killed in action - on 5 June 1915 - at Gallipoli, Turkey.

Lance Sergeant Donovan L. Rees has no known grave at Gallipoli - but he is commemorated on the Lone Pine (New Zealand) Memorial to the Missing, Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, ANZAC, Turkey (Panel 74).

Lance Sergeant Donovan L. Rees is also remembered at his hometown in New Zealand - on the Marlborough District War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Blenheim, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand.

For Lance Sergeant Donovan L. Rees full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com

Photo Credit: Lance Sergeant D.L. Rees : Auckland War Memorial Museum (Auckland, New Zealand) : Profile of Lance Sergeant D.L. Rees.

Marlborough War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.

 

 

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett