John Melvyn Watkins

Remembering former BNZers who fought in WW1 and WW2, some of whom never returned home. 

John commenced work at the Christchurch branch in 1910, at the time he enlisted on the 13 August 1914 he was working as Assistant Remittances.

John served/trained in NZ, Eygpt, Turkey, England and France. He was killed in action after serving 4 years and 19 days on the 1 September 1918. John Watkins was awarded the Military Cross:

Citation:

'For conspicious gallantry and devotion to duty. He superintended the unloading of wagon loads of ammunition at the battery position under an intense enemy barrage which was suddenly put down on the locality. His efficient control and disregard of danger enabled the work to be completed without casualties, though he himself was knocked over and temporarily incapacitated by the explosion of a shell just as his work was completed.'
London Gazette 2 November 1918.