Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Document: | New Zealand WW1 Masonic List | N.Z. | |
Awards & Titles: | Mentioned in Despatches | ||
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
11/487 Captain William Janson, Wellington Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
See also: Auckland Museum Online Memorial.
Enlisted for service 15th August, 1914. By August 1915 he had been granted the rank of Captain and was soon in Malta. He embarked for England in September, 1915 when at the same time he relinquishes the rank of Captain. The timeline is out of order on his service sheet, but it appears for a time he is struck off strength through ill health, whilst at Ismailia, and in December 1915 he has been mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton's despatches whilst at Gallipoli.
William survived the war and went on to become a Company Manager, Victoria Street, Hawera, New Zealand and died in 1932.
He is commemorated at his grave at Hawera Cemetery, South Taranaki District, in the Episcopalian Block L1 Plot 20. (or Plot 5749). His headstone reads, "In sacred and loving memory of Captain William Janson, Main Body N.Z.E.F., active service 1914-1919; 29th May 1932."
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Star in the East No. 1355 E.C. | Egypt |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
13th October 1916 | - | - |
William was evidently serving in Cairo as part of the war effort when he was listed as a Captain and initiated into Star of the East Lodge No. 1355. He did not appear to have progressed any higher that that of Entered Apprentice. He continued payments to this lodge following the war and until at least 1921.
A square and compass is visible on his gravestone.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley