Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Captain C. B. K. de Castro, New Zealand Forces, who served in the N.Z. Camel Transport Corps in Palestine following active service in Gallipoli

1914-15 Star (7/1539 Capt., N.Z.E.F.); British War and Victory Medals (7/1539 Capt., N.Z.E.F.); War Medal 1939-45; New Zealand War Service Medal 1939-45, good very fine (5) £400-450

Charles Baron Knox de Castro was born in Tawa, Wellington 1893, where he enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in February 1915. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, he was drafted to the 6th Reinforcements and embarked for Suez that August, from whence, according to an obituary, he saw action in Gallipoli, most probably as member of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles - his cousin was killed in action in the same unit during the fighting at Chunuk Bair. Official records confirm that he subsequently served in the Wellington and Auckland Mounted Rifles, and latterly in the N.Z. Camel Transport Corps in Sinai and Palestine, gaining advancement to Captain in November 1917 - the Corps operated alongside the Australian Light Horse, transporting supplies from Aqaba in support of operations against the Hejaz railway and elsewhere.

Demobilised in October 1919, after having served in the U.K. and captained the N.Z. Army’s Rugby Team, in addition to the Hawke’s Bay team in 1920, de Castro took up an appointment in the Fiji Government. Later moving to Australia, he returned to New Zealand shortly before the renewal of hostilities in 1939, and served on the National Military Reserve at Burnham Camp. He died at Napier in December 1972.