WW1 NZ Rifle Brigade in Brockton UK

[flossy64]

I'm looking for ancestor, Percy Gordon McGregor who joined the '30th Regiment' in NZ in 1916. I think this Regiment may have also been the NZ Rifle Brigade? Percy embarked for the UK on 23.6.1917 and from there left for France, attached to a field Regiment on 24.2.1918. I would love to know where in France he fought.
He was wounded in battle and returned to the UK where I have found him at Brockton Camp or Brockton Hospital in August of 1918. He is said to have suffered 'shell shock' and deserted or went AWOL from Brockton. Records show he pleads his innocence in this regard.
I have Percy back in Melbourne, Australia in 1920 but not sure if he ever returned to NZ after the war.
Any information on my brave ancestor in France or Brockton, or other war history on him would be gratefully appreciated.

[dotty.]

If this is the same Percy Gordon McGregor his army record is here at the Aukland Archives::
http://archives.govt....rch/apachesolr_search

Specificaally:
McGREGOR, Percy Gordon - WW1 30959 - Army
Dates: 1914 – 1918
Ref: AABK 18805 W5544/71

[dotty.]

Auckland Regional Office

95 Richard Pearse Drive, Mangere, Manukau 2022
PO Box 201103, Auckland Airport, Manukau 2150
Ph: (64- 9) 270 1100
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

[flossy64]

Thanks and yes this is the same Percy McGregor but files have restricted access, I suspect due to Percy's medical records.
I'm hoping for some outside info that might shine some light on his time in the UK and France. Thanks again.

[dotty.]

when you say 'a field regiment' do you have any clue? In May 1918 there was the 3rd Battle of Aisne, unless it was the Battle of Le Hemel, the Australian Imperial Force were in that 4th July.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hamel

[flossy64]

Yes, I now have a couple of good clues. I have worked out that Percy's departure from Brocton, UK on the 24.2.1918 and the record I have of him being wounded on the 18.3.1918, (barely a month after his arrival in France), that he fought in the German Offensive of 1918. This battle in Serre on the Somme is the only battle in France I can find that was fought around March of 1918. So I am confident he was there, on the Western Front I now just need the information to confirm this for me. Both NZ and Australia fought side by side in this battle, the Anzacs looking out for each other. Percy was back in Brocton on the 15.8.1918 when he went AWOL from the hospital or the barracks and was labeled a 'deserter' after that event.
I have also done quite a bit of research over the weekend on 'shell shock' or 'Neurasthenia' as he was diagnosed with. How these men must have suffered and I am now convinced that Percy being branded a 'Deserter' was due to his mental state after being wounded rather than an attempt to flee the Army. Some of these returned soldiers state of mind left them unable to obey simple orders or even speak, all resulting from their war experiences. Some in the British Army were even shot by their own country because they were seen as cowards. I am now keen to further my investigations and try and clear Percy's name posthumously and rid his record of being a deserter.
Thanks for your interest, I hope this helps in my search for information on our brave WW1 soldier.
PS I am also keen to find if Percy returned to NZ after the war. He is in Australia here, in 1920. I wonder if he got off the ship in Aus on the way back to NZ and decided to stay??