Private Owen LUSTY (1893-1916).
NZEF Service # 10/4471; Private, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 12th (Nelson) Company, 11th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 23 October 1893 - at Nelson, South Island, New Zealand.
Owen was the son of Frank Lusty - of Richmond, Nelson.
Owen Lusty was also the brother of Rifleman Benjamin Lusty : NZEF Service # 2904, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, NZEF. Benjamin Lusty survived war service and he returned to New Zealand - aboard HT 'Northumberland' - on 8 June 1919.
Prior to enlistment for war service Owen Lusty was a Labourer - at Seddon, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
Owen Lusty enlisted for war service - on 14 November 1915 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 21 years of age.
At enlistment Owen Lusty was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 11th Reinforcements, NZEF.
On 1 April 1916 Private Lusty left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the 11th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ T49 'Tahiti' - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Four weeks later - on 4 May 1916 - Private Lusty disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - at either Suez or Alexandria, Egypt.
The same day, as he disembarked at Egypt, Private Lusty was posted to the Wellington Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, NZEF - at Tel el Kebir.
On 26 July 1916 Private Lusty left Egypt - aboard HT 'Ivernia' - for active war service - at France & Belgium.
Private Lusty disembarked from his transport ship from Egypt - on 7 August 1916 - at Southampton, England.
One month later - on 8 September 1916 - Private Lusty transferred to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion - at France. At the same time he was posted to the 12th (Nelson) Company.
On 1 October 1916 Private Lusty was reported missing in action - in the field - at the Somme, France.
The next day - on 2 October 1916 - Private Lusty was admitted to the 15th Corps Main Dressing Station - at Somme, France.
The same day - 2 October 1916 - Private Owen Lusty died of wounds - received in action - at the 15th Corps Main Dressing Station - at France. He was 22 years of age.
Private Owen Lusty is buried at Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France. (Grave ref: 11.D.17).
For Private Owen Lusty's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Photo Credit: Private Owen Lusty : 'Weekly News' (4 January 1917) - from the Auckland Library Heritage Photograph Collection (Auckland, New Zealand).
Photo Credit : Richmond War Memorial, Nelson, New Zealand : Ministry of Culture & Heritage : www.nzhistory.govt.org
Jenifer Everett