John Wilson, one of those researching aspects of military service for this project, has provided the following information about searching the Archway database of National Archives.
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Looking for NZEF WWI personnel files at Archives.
If you know the regimental number the file can be found by a simple search for the number, or for the name/surname. Even if you have found their file, search on the number as he may have a second file. My grandfather was in WWI as a chaplain in the Sinai & Palestine; Rev James Duncan McLennan Wilson. He has a 139-page second file as Duncan McLennan Wilson, mainly about his service in the Territorials, though he was known to us as James not Duncan!
While most NZEF military personnel files (WWI) are in series 18805 at Archives, there are other series with personnel files (7291 & 22525). Series 22525 has New Zealanders in other forces which includes the Royal Navy and the RFC/RAF as well as the British Army. New Zealand did not have its own Air Force or Navy in WWI.
To search a series, go from the Archway home to Advanced then Records. Put the series (say 22525) in the box “Series”. Search by keyword which can be a surname, or other terms like Australia or voluntary. You can search for more than one keyword at once, but tick the box “any words” instead of “all words”. For nurses and V.A.D's (Voluntary Aid Detachment) a search of 22525 for the keyword nurse gets 331 hits and for Voluntary gets 1142 hits. A search for “mechanic” gets 97 hits for mechanics in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), mainly in Motor Boat Patrols. A search for Force gets 2140 hits for NZers in the Australian Imperial Force, Canadian Expeditionary Forces or Royal Air Force etc. Note that these are not full military personnel records files, but may just be a letter to the Defence Minister or Army asking about a New Zealander serving overseas.
Series 7291 (Army General Staff) has files for members of the permanent forces (i.e. the full-time Army), including those in the training camps e.g. Featherston.
Series 22525 (Base Records) has many files about men who were enlisted and appealed on various grounds or did not get into the NZEF because the war ended or as health problems were found after enlistment.
Series 17590 (NZEF HQ) and Series 17625 (NZEF War Records) have some statements made by prisoners of war, some files about the effects of deceased soldiers, some personal papers (e.g. for 32700, Sgt TF Scales), and some statements about injuries (e.g. to V.A.D. Miss M.A.Mackenzie at Hornchurch). Not all of these Archway entries include the WWI regimental number, so you may need to search for a surname.
There are some (c117) photos of wounded soldiers in Series 17625, but they are mainly identified by surname only (no initials or number).
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Looking for NZEF WWI personnel files at Archives.
If you know the regimental number the file can be found by a simple search for the number, or for the name/surname. Even if you have found their file, search on the number as he may have a second file. My grandfather was in WWI as a chaplain in the Sinai & Palestine; Rev James Duncan McLennan Wilson. He has a 139-page second file as Duncan McLennan Wilson, mainly about his service in the Territorials, though he was known to us as James not Duncan!
While most NZEF military personnel files (WWI) are in series 18805 at Archives, there are other series with personnel files (7291 & 22525). Series 22525 has New Zealanders in other forces which includes the Royal Navy and the RFC/RAF as well as the British Army. New Zealand did not have its own Air Force or Navy in WWI.
To search a series, go from the Archway home to Advanced then Records. Put the series (say 22525) in the box “Series”. Search by keyword which can be a surname, or other terms like Australia or voluntary. You can search for more than one keyword at once, but tick the box “any words” instead of “all words”. For nurses and V.A.D's (Voluntary Aid Detachment) a search of 22525 for the keyword nurse gets 331 hits and for Voluntary gets 1142 hits. A search for “mechanic” gets 97 hits for mechanics in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), mainly in Motor Boat Patrols. A search for Force gets 2140 hits for NZers in the Australian Imperial Force, Canadian Expeditionary Forces or Royal Air Force etc. Note that these are not full military personnel records files, but may just be a letter to the Defence Minister or Army asking about a New Zealander serving overseas.
Series 7291 (Army General Staff) has files for members of the permanent forces (i.e. the full-time Army), including those in the training camps e.g. Featherston.
Series 22525 (Base Records) has many files about men who were enlisted and appealed on various grounds or did not get into the NZEF because the war ended or as health problems were found after enlistment.
Series 17590 (NZEF HQ) and Series 17625 (NZEF War Records) have some statements made by prisoners of war, some files about the effects of deceased soldiers, some personal papers (e.g. for 32700, Sgt TF Scales), and some statements about injuries (e.g. to V.A.D. Miss M.A.Mackenzie at Hornchurch). Not all of these Archway entries include the WWI regimental number, so you may need to search for a surname.
There are some (c117) photos of wounded soldiers in Series 17625, but they are mainly identified by surname only (no initials or number).