News Story
100 years ago today the New Zealand Division began its assault at the Somme, one of the bloodiest and costliest campaigns of the First World War. The story of former volunteer firefighter, Edward Mitchell Pharazyn Rexworthy, epitomises those who served and were among the estimated one million service personnel killed or wounded at the Somme. Rexworthy enlisted right at the start of the war in August 1914, giving his address as Central Fire Station, Pitt Street, Auckland. His full-time occupation was Male Nurse so it was natural he'd join the NZ Medical Corps, Number 1 Ambulance Company. He served with the Anzacs at Gallipoli where he was injured and evacuated to England for treatment. Recovered, he returned to the battlefield and then, via Ismailia, moved to Marseilles in France, all the time on active service. On 12 September 1916 he left his company to attend Machine Gun School and on 1st October 1916 he was attached to the NZ Machine Gun Corps, Number 3 Company. Just 3 days later, on 4th October, he was killed in action on the front-line. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour at Auckland City Fire Station and on the cenotaph at the New Zealand Memorial at Caterpillar Valley in Longueval, Somme, France, where today there's a special Centennial Memorial Service. We are remembering them.
