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Trooper William Thomas Milliken
Description
TitleTrooper William Thomas MillikenSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionWilliam was born in Canterbury on 7th May 1894, son of John and Elizabeth Milliken. Before enlisting he was working for his father at Springfield. He had previous military experience having served four years with the 1st Mounted Rifles, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and brown hair.
William enlisted on 25th July 1916 and was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements, New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He embarked with them on 14 December 1916 on board the Moeraki bound for Suez. He disembarked at Suez after Christmas on 24th January 1917 and was posted to the strength at Moascar on the same day. He was sent to the School of Instruction at Zeitoun on 7th February and re-joined his unit 10 days later at Moascar. He was then transferred to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on 29th April and posted to 1st Squadron in the field on 2nd May 1917. He was killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 23. On that day the Mounted Rifles took part in the first raid on Amman which had begun the day before. The assault was renewed at 1 p.m., but little headway was made. The Mounted Rifles tried twice during the day to advance, but at the end of day still occupied the line held the previous day. The Mounted Rifles casualties for the day are one man killed and two wounded. It would seem that William was that casualty. The report of his death notes that he was buried near Amman amongst the “ex Salt District military graves about thirty miles north east of Jericho, Palestine. Grave p16”. After the war his body was retrieved and buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria. In New Zealand William is remembered on the Springfield and Kowai Bush War Memorials
First NameWilliam ThomasLast NameMillikenFamilySingleSon of John and Elizabeth MillikenDate of Birth7 May 1894Place of BirthCanterburyDate of Death28 March 1918Place of DeathSyriaCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death23
William enlisted on 25th July 1916 and was assigned to the 20th Reinforcements, New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He embarked with them on 14 December 1916 on board the Moeraki bound for Suez. He disembarked at Suez after Christmas on 24th January 1917 and was posted to the strength at Moascar on the same day. He was sent to the School of Instruction at Zeitoun on 7th February and re-joined his unit 10 days later at Moascar. He was then transferred to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade on 29th April and posted to 1st Squadron in the field on 2nd May 1917. He was killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 23. On that day the Mounted Rifles took part in the first raid on Amman which had begun the day before. The assault was renewed at 1 p.m., but little headway was made. The Mounted Rifles tried twice during the day to advance, but at the end of day still occupied the line held the previous day. The Mounted Rifles casualties for the day are one man killed and two wounded. It would seem that William was that casualty. The report of his death notes that he was buried near Amman amongst the “ex Salt District military graves about thirty miles north east of Jericho, Palestine. Grave p16”. After the war his body was retrieved and buried in the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria. In New Zealand William is remembered on the Springfield and Kowai Bush War Memorials
First NameWilliam ThomasLast NameMillikenFamilySingleSon of John and Elizabeth MillikenDate of Birth7 May 1894Place of BirthCanterburyDate of Death28 March 1918Place of DeathSyriaCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death23
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageKowai Bush War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryDamascus Commonwealth War CemeteryKowai Bush War Memorial Springfield War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingWorking for fatherRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Mounted RiflesEmbarkation14th December 1916TransportMoerakiReinforcement20th Reinforcements
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Trooper William Thomas Milliken. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/379