" A returned soldier named Charles Wilson, while returning from Dunedin to Port Charles under escort yesterday afternoon, escaped from a train at  Burke's. He later went to the Port, commandeered a small boat, and attempted  to row to Quarantine Island. The sea was rough, and Wilson was seen at 6.30 p.m. struggling in the water. The police  secured a launch and went to the rescue but Wilson disappeared, and his body was not recovered." [Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 305, 22 December 1917, Page 6]

According to his service record, Wilson was a patient at Quarantine Island, having been returned from hospitals in Australia. He was being escorted from the Island to hospital in Dunedin and it was on the return, that he escaped from the Military Police escort. No Court of Enquiry or Coroners Court was held.