Thanks to Jock who has pointed out that Bungo's grandfathers service records are available online.
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/...pid=FL13484603
Interestingly Bungo, your grandfathers service records list his occupation as a painter, whereas his registration for active service, he is listed as a butchers assistant, and in his attestation papers he states he was employed by the Islington Freezing Works.
Possibly, due to his being only 19 when he went into Trentham camp (20 was the normal enlistment age in NZ, so he would have had approval of at least one parent) he may have thought being a painter would secure him a place in the front line.
His service records show that Private Thomas Burns was called into “Featherston camp” as part of Canterbury Quota for the 20th Reinforcements on the 24th August 1916, and was attested on the 26th August 1916.
Thomas disembarked at Devonport and marched into Sling camp on the 18th February 1917 as part of the Canterbury Regiment. On the 30th March 1917, Thomas was marched into Codford Camp.
On the 4th April 1917, Thomas was assigned to the Canterbury 4th Brigade and posted to its 1st Company.
On the 27th May 1917, Thomas departed Codford and embarked for France on the 28th May 1917.
As mentioned in my previous post, it is likely that item “M” was worn as a collar badge while Thomas was a member of the 20th Reinforcements.
It is also likely that items “K,” “L,” “O” and “P” (If not belonging to other relatives) were collected/traded by Thomas sometime between the 24th August 1916 and the 7th May 1917.
It is likely that the 1st Canterbury Regiment collar badge, item “P” was issued to Thomas around the 4th April 1917.
It is likely that item “A” is a “1st Canterbury Battalion” pathch that was worn by Thomas.
As Tinto points out there is some confussion to how the 1st Canterbury Battalion patch was displayed. "The Record of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War" poster is incorrect. In fact, the way that Bungo has displayed item “A,” is correct for the 1st Canterbury Battalion. (Worn with the scarlet triangle on the left and blue on the right)
The rest of the items were most likely collected by Thomas from June 1917 onwards.
Interestingly, on the 17th March 1918, Thomas was transferred to the No. 2 Entrenching Battalion, serving with them until the 2nd September 1918.
(In February 1918, on the absorption of the Fourth Brigade, it was organised into three entrenching battalions)
“On April 12 (1918) No. 2 Entrenching Battalion, strength 22 officers and 1130 other ranks, moved hurriedly by motor bus from Abeele to St. Jaus Capel to fill a gap near Meteren, and attached to the 10th Division. They rendered excellent service, and fought well, but some captured through being cut off. Casualties, 251.”
A very interesting time capsule of a collection, which hopefully will remain in the family for generations to come.