LATE TROOPER STEELE.
The news that Trooper James Walter Steele, son of Mrs Ada Steel, Factory road, Mosgiel, had died of wounds received at the Dardanelles, caused quite a gloom in Mosgiel yesterday, when flags were flown as a tribute of respect. While on the local Post Office staff he was a very obliging and capable officer. -Otago Daily Times, 9/6/1915.
Another of the Gisborne members of the Expeditionary Force has succumbed to wounds received at the Dardanelles, the victim this time being Trooper James Walter Steele, late of Tokomaru Bay. He left Gisborne on December 18, being one of the three members of the Tokomaru Bay Post and Telegraph Office who left in the same batch of reinforcements. Trooper Steele was, a telegraphist, and was popularly known at Tokomaru and Gisborne. His mother resides in Factory road, Mosgiel. The deceased young man was 21 1/2 years of age. He joined the Post and Telegraph Department at Mosgiel as a messenger in 1908. He was twice promoted there, and in 1912 he was transferred to Oamaru to learn telegraphy. From Oamaru he was sent to Tokomaru Bay as a cadet, in October, 1912, and remained there until he joined the Expeditionary Force. -Poverty Bay Herald, 9/6/1915.
James Steele joined the Wellington Mounted Rifles as a signaller. He died of gunshot wounds on the Hospital Ship "Dunluce Castle" and was buried at sea. The days before James' death were relatively quiet for the WMR - it is possible he was shot by a Turkish sniper.
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