An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service

Three: Warrant Officer 1st Class Henry Fretwell, New Zealand Permanent Staff

New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal (S.S.M. W.O.1), N.Z.P.S.); Permanent Forces of the Empire L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (S.S.M. (W.O.1), N.Z.P.S.); New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., Field Marshal’s bust (W.O.1, N.Z.P.S.) first with edge bruise, very fine (3) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service.

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Collection

Approximately 159 Permanent Forces of the Empire Long Service Medals were issued to New Zealand recipients during the reign of George V. Approximately 145 G.V.R. ‘Field Marshal’s bust’ M.S.M's. were issued with the ‘New Zealand’ reverse.

Henry Fretwell was born on 29 April 1880 near the town of Mataura, south of Gore in Southland Province. He was educated at the Gore and Orepuki Public Schools. On leaving school he first worked for John Stocker, a blacksmith, and William Forbes, a gold miner, both at Orepuki. He then joined the New Zealand Railways before taking up gold mining with a partner, selling his share and joining the Canadian Flat Gold Mining Company from October 1900 to mid-1901. He applied to the No. 2 Service Company, Permanent Militia on 16 May 1901 and when this was turned down he joined the Orepuki Rifle Volunteers and continued gold prospecting.

He enlisted as a probationer in the Royal New Zealand Engineers during February 1905 and was attested at the Permanent Force Depot, Buckle Street, Wellington on 11 February 1905. He was transferred to the Shelley Bay Section of the R.N.Z.E. and was promoted to 2nd Class Sapper on 11 August 1906. On 15 October 1907, on the reorganisation of the Permanent Force, he was transferred to the Electric Light Section of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and became a Gunner. He was next posted to the Electric Light Section, R.N.Z.A. at Dunedin on 21 July 1909, and was transferred there to the Artillery Section on 1 August 1911. On 1 May 1912 he was appointed to the New Zealand Permanent Staff and posted to the Otago Military District as Sergeant Instructor, the appointment being confirmed on 2 December 1912, and remained there until 18 May 1916, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, before being posted to Trentham Camp as Musketry Instructor to recruits being trained for overseas service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He applied for overseas service but was refused as his skills were required for training in New Zealand. In January 1918 he was transferred to the NZEF and attached to 'A' Company of the 47th Reinforcements. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class on 1 May 1918 and discharged from the N.Z.E.F. on 5 December 1918 without overseas service. He was next posted to Christchurch as an Instructor, later becoming the Sub-Area Sergeant Major and then, on 1 June 1920, he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 1. In 1924 his instructional duties took him to Burnham Camp where he was involved with training senior cadets. He next passed a Vickers Machine Gun course at Trentham Camp. Henry Fretwell was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, the Canterbury Regiment on 28 April 1928 until being discharged at the height of the Depression in March 1931, managing to find employment as Club Manager of the Canterbury Branch of the Automobile Association. He was recalled for service on 26 September 1939, attested at Burnham Camp for services in the New Zealand Temporary Staff and later the Permanent Staff (Temporary). Later he was appointed a Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, the Canterbury Regiment in February 1941. He retired at his own request on 24 June 1943, suffering from chronic lymphatic leukaemia, and died in Christchurch on 7 February 1948 at the age of 67 years.

Fretwell’s New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal was approved on 15 September 1922 and presented to him at Christchurch on 11 October 1922. His Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was approved on 28 March 1923, which he also received while at Christchurch on 5 April 1923. His New Zealand Meritorious Service Medal was approved on 5 March 1926 which he received, again, at Christchurch on 15 March 1926. In addition to the these three he was also entitled to the War and New Zealand War Service Medals 1939-45.