ANZAC - John Joseph WASS

Capt. John Joseph Wass

(b. 12 Aug 1877, Holbeach; d. ?)
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His trade was noted as groom, but it appears he had a role in the army's Horse Transport Branch.

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and according to other military records, he'd been serving in the British army since 1897, and had been loaned out to the NZ Army before war broke out. Further records show he was permanently transferred to the NZ Army in 1918 until 1920.
His military records show he was awarded The Star.
Even though he was already in the army, he signed up for service in August of 1914, and was finally discharged in February of 1920.

After returning to NZ, where he'd desired to settle, he wrote an 'intriguing' letter, seeking employment after the war:

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The "6 branch" - could this have been referring to MI6?
Unfortunately, the reply wasn't positive for his employment prospects there:

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In 1948 he had reached the age of retirement from military service, as was standard practice.

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Also amongst his military file is a handwritten letter from John, where, because of accusations of his lineage and loyalties being called into question by the Anti-German League, he lists several immediate and a large number of more distant relatives (e.g cousins) who were also involved in the military (and that he was of true English stock).
An excerpt of his correspondence:

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The subsequent military investigation quickly showed he was in the clear.

memorandum dated 16 Dec 1916
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From all I read, I got the impression he was a very proud army man, happy and willing to do his duty as so many other members of his family were doing. It must have been very frustrating for him to come out of the war and no longer have a place within the military.
I do hope that he at least found his adopted home - NZ - treated him well.

Notes:
His father was John WASS (b. cir 1853, Lincolnshire) a corn miller, and his mother was Harriet (nee: ?) (b. cir 1851, Lincolnshire).

In his military records it shows his brother Charles William Wass as next-of-kin, and in 1912 he was a sergeant in the C.I.D division at New Scotland Yard.

On the 14th of November, 1905, his membership to the Freemasons was registered, in the Blair Lodge , Manchester; and he was already a sergeant, in the A.S.C.
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On the 18th of December, 1917 he married widow Mary HORROCKS, in Bitterne, Hampshire.

In June of 1923, the Temuka Leader newspaper published a notice which shows John had obtained a license to run a hostel.

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Bibliography:

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers

https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.freebmd.org.uk/search

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