William J Main

25th Reinforcements Specialist Company

4 January 1895 - 25 July 1947

William was the husband 
of my great grandfather's niece.


I have researched the following information about Jack 
from his military records and other related texts. 
I have endeavored to record the story of his 
involvement in the war as accurately as possible. 

Bill Main with an unidentifyed woman, probably his sister Eva.
The photos were taken by Berry & Co in 1917.
Bill Main with an unidentifyed woman, probably his sister Eva.
The photo was taken by Berry & Co in 1917.


William John Main (known as Bill) was born in Helensville in 1895 to William and Helen Main.

At the time of enlisting (1 November 1916), Bill named his mother his next of kin. Her address was 31 Station Road, Remuera, Auckland. Bill, however, was living at 22 Hawkestone Street Wellington and was employed as a Railway Cadet. Bill identified himself as a Presbytarian.

Prior to embarking for service on the Western Front Bill was docked six days pay for returning to Featherston Camp late after taking leave. This was his first and only offence recorded against him while in service.

Bill embarked on the ship Turakina with the 25th Reinforcements Specialist Company from Wellington on 26 April 1917. The ship docked in Devonport, England on 20 July and then the troops were marched to Sling Camp. Bill was initially joined to the Canterbury Company 4th Reserve Battalion, then was transferred to the Otago Regiment 4th Reserve Battalion. While at Sling Camp Bill qualified as a first class signaler on 22 November 1917. His prior experiences with the railways would have come in handy.

On 11 January 1918, Bill left for in France and two days later marched into Etaples Camp. A month later he was joined to the 1st Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment and was in the field by mid-February. Less than five days later he was sent to the New Zealand Field Hospital suffering from influenza and spent the next few days recouperating. In early March Bill was marched out to rejoin his Battalion, however, he again fell ill and was sent to the New Zealand Field Ambulance on 1 April. From there Bill was evacuated to the 24th General Hospital in Etaples were he celebrated his 23rd birthday. On 9 April Bill was transferred to the Number 12 Convalescent Depot in Aubenque where he stayed for two weeks. Bill took sick again on 23 April, and was admitted to Number 14 Stationery Hospital in the town of Wimereaux suffering from diarrohea. He stayed there for six days and was then returned to the Number 12 Convalescent Depot on 29 April. It appears that Bill also spent about three weeks at the Number 5 Rest Camp at St Martins before he was well enough to rejoin his Battalion in the field again.

On 23 June 1918, Bill was back with his Battalion, then on 27 August he joined the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment. He was with them one week before being evacuated to the Field Ambulance, again with severe diarrohea. Bill was admitted to the Number 5 General Hospital in Rouen on 5 September who transferred him to the 25 Stationery Hospital on 16 September. By 27 September he was in Number 1 New Zealand General Hospital in Brockenhurst. England, diagnosed with Clinical Dysentery. In a later medical report, Bill's diagnosis was revised to enteritis.

Bill was sent back to New Zealand on the ship Maunganui which departed from Liverpool, England, on 2 December 1918. He was officially discharged from service on 6 February 1919 because he was "no longer physically fit for war service" due to enteritis. The outcome of a Medical Board report found that Bill would need 12 months to fully recover from his illness and that he would be entitled to receive a war pension for a period of three months.

Bill served a total of two years and 35 days and received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal in recognition of his service..

In 1922 Bill married Grace Victoria Main (1900 - 1996). They had two children, Olive Joyce (Joye) and Gordon. Bill became the Chief Accounts Officer with the NZ Railways in Wellington. 

Bill died on 25 July 1947 in Wellington. He was 52.


Sources
Archives New Zealand: Archway - Military Files
Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph - Cenotaph Record
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa - Collections

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