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3 Jan 1892, Mt Eden, Auckland, N.Z.

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9 Jan 1983, Stanley Bay, N.Z.

 

Territorial Force 1909-14
New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1914-19
       (Gallipoli, Western Front)
New Zealand Army 1941-43

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Oct 1914

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1919

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Auckland College Rifles  (1909-11)
Auckland Divisional Signal Company  (1911-14)
New Zealand Divisional Signal Company  (1914-19  VC)
Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals (1941-43)

 

7 Aug 1915, Chunuk Bair, Galipolli

 

Corporal

 

Lieutenant Colonel

 

Only NZ VC during Gallipoli
First NZ VC for WW1

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MINI BIO

 

Cyril attended Grafton School, Auckland Grammar School and the Auckland Technical College. In 1908 he was employed as a clerk at the Newton branch of the National Bank of New Zealand. 
1909 to 1911 he served with the  Auckland College Rifles Volunteers, and then with the Auckland Divisional Signal Company from 1911 to 1914.
10 Aug 1914 he was attested as a sapper in the New Zealand Divisional Signal Company, at that time attached to the Corps of New Zealand Engineers. 
He sailed with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 16 Oct.  From the first landings, he was thrust into the fighting at Gallipoli.
He became the first NZ serviceman to receive a VC in WW1 after ferocious fighting at Chunuk Bair. He was the only NZ soldier to receive a VC at Gallipoli.
Evacuated to England due to illness on 13 Aug 15. He rejoined his unit in France, Jun 16.
On 21 Sep was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Twice wounded in action, he was returned to NZ Dec 18. He was promoted to Lieutenant prior to discharge.
After the war he resumed his banking career.  He retained his military link by joining the Territorial Force. July 25 he was posted to the
reserve of officers and in Dec 29 placed on the retired list.
19 Jan 26 he married Ruth Louise Grant.  They had two daughters.
After the outbreak of the Second World War Cyril was recalled to the National Military Reserve as Lieutenant. He spent the war years in NZ, working in signals and eventually achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with command of Northern Military District Signals. Throughout his military career he was regarded as a popular and hard-working officer.
He retired from the bank Jan 56 and served the Devonport community as a JP. 
He died on 9 January 1983 at his home..

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LONDON GAZETTE

No. 29328

15 October 1915

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No. 4/515 Corporal Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett, New Zealand Divisional Signal Company. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the Chunuk Bair ridge in the Gallipoli Peninsula on 7th August, 1915. After the New Zealand Infantry Brigade had attacked and established itself on the ridge, Corporal Bassett, in full daylight and under a continuous and heavy fire, succeeded in laying a telephone line from the old position to the new one on Chunuk Bair. He has subsequently been brought to notice for further excellent and most gallant work connected with the repair of telephone lines by day and night under heavy fire.