(1887-1966)
Occupation: Engine driver
Rank: Private
ServiceNumber: 6/722
Force: NZEF
Family
Rupert was born 10 June 1887 to Thomas Mark Skilton and Florence Octavia (nee Neal) of Puramhoi, third son of six brothers and a sister.
He was educated at Puramahoi and Collingwood to Standard 4.
Pre-War
He worked and lived in Westland as an engine driver for Stratford Blair in the Paroa Forest.
1914
Rupert enlisted at Greymouth 14 August. He was declared medically fit for service with the 3rd Canterbury Infantry.
16 October: The Main Body slipped out of Wellington Harbour quietly, no fuss, no send off on a grey calm morning, 10 escorted troopships to be joined by the Australians at Albany and on to Egypt.
3 December: Disembarked at Alexandria for the training camp at Zeitoun near Cairo. Here joined by the Australians to form the ANZACs.
1915
Gallipoli
25 April: Landed with the Main Body and dug in forming the rabbit warren of trenches which would become Quinn’s Post.
May: He was wounded in action by a gunshot wound to his foot and shrapnel in his leg.
He was taken by H S Franconia for treatment and admitted to General Hospital Pont de Kobbeh and on to convalesce at the 'Lady Godley', Ramleh. Four weeks later back to Gallipoli. He was to spend 14 weeks at Quinn’s Post nightmare.
September: He was wounded a second time; shrapnel to his fingers and was suffering from jaundice. He travelled by H S Salta back to Cairo.
From here he was declared medically unfit and invalided back to NZ on the Willochra, disembarking at Dunedin. He went from there to Greymouth Hospital as an out patient.
End of December and he was back home in Onekaka.
1916
3 April: Rupert was discharged with permanent deafness in his right ear caused by bomb concussion. He served: NZ 216 days Foreign 1 year 15 days.
Post-War
1916 end of December he was back home in Onekaka.
He married Effie Clara Grace (nee Duncan) in Wellington. She was from a well known Puramahoi family. They had 4 children.
1920 Rupert operated a clay pit at Onekaka. This clay was used as fire clay for steam engines and suchlike.
1930 Operated a timber mill in Tukurua.
1942 he was a sawmiller.
The family shifted to Nelson, Rupert's occupation a carpenter. At the time of his passing they lived in Tahuna. He died 15 October 1966 aged 79 and is buried in RSA Marsden cemetery.