GILSHNAN Sidney Egmont
10/362, Sergeant, 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment, WW1
69275, WW2 Service
20793, Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATION
Military Medal
Gazetted 9 December 1916, p12058
During the night of 26/27th September at the Grid Trench northwest of Flers, this NCO displayed great gallantry and conspicuous ability at reconnoitring the enemy’s position under heavy machine-gun and artillery fire. When reinforcements and boms were urgently needed he went across the open ground under fire to report same, and subsequently led the parties to the required sector. He showed great devotion to duty, efficiency and coolness under all circumstances
OBITUARY
The death occurred suddenly on Sunday 29th June 1969 of Pioneer Sidney Egmont Gilshnan, MM, ED. Born in Cardiff, Taranaki in 1891, Sid had a very distinguished military career. He was a main body man and served on Gallipoli and in France and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. He won his commission in England and returned to New Zealand. In the second world war he again donned a uniform and served in the Pacific. Sid was a builder by trade, but between the wars tried his hand at farming for ten years at Aokautere.
He joined the Legion of Frontiersmen in Palmerston North in 1933 and was Troop Officer Commanding of the Ashhurst Troop. Shifting to Tauranga in 1944 he was a tower of strength to 'J' Squadron both as Squadron Leader and Adjutant. Sid held the Legion very dear and was the holder of theLong Service & Efficiency Medal, Silver Fern and at the Tauranga Conference in 1968, for his services to the Legion and 'J' Squadron he was awarded the Pioneer AxeAWARDS
Military Medal
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
New Zealand War Service Medal
Efficiency Decoration (1950)
Colonial Forces Auxilliary Officer's Decoration
Colonial Auxilliary Forces Long Service Medal
New Zealand Long & Efficient Service Medal
New Zealand Territorial Service Medal
Pioneer Axe (1968)
Frontiersmen Long Service & Efficiency Medal (1954)
Silver Fern
NOTES
Born 20 October 1891 Cardiff, Taranaki, New Zealand
Married 24 January 1918 Palmerston North to Violet Annie DRURY
Died 29 June 1969 Tauranga, New Zealand
Buried Pyes Pa Cemetery, Tauranga
SERVICE
Palmerston North Guards Volunteers = 23 July 1909 to 28 February 1911
World War 1 = 14 August 1914 to 29 February 1920 Commissioned to 2nd Lieutenant
Reserve of Officers = 5 January 1919 to 3 July 1921 as 2nd Lieutenant
Posted 2nd Battalion Wellington Regiment = 4 July 1921 to 31 May 1923 as 2nd Lieutenant
Posted to Wellington West Coast Regiment = 1 June 1923 to 2 November 1927 reach rank of Captain
Posted to Manawatu Mounted Rifles = 3 November 1927 to 15 February 1933 as captain
Reserve of Officers = 16 February 1933 to 3 July 1940 as Captain
Posted Wellington West Coast Regiment & Manawatu Mounted Rifles 4 July 1940 to 30 November 1941 as Temp Major
Joined 2 NZEF 1 December 1941 to 22 November 1943 as a Captain
Also served in Fiji with 34 Battalion of 8 Brigade Group, 2NZEF-IP
Posted to the Reserve of Officers 3 February 1948 at rank of Major
Joined Legion of Frontiersmen = just prior to 1939
Discharged Legion of Frontiersmen = 29 June 1969
