ROLL OF HONOUR
Lance-Corporal E. A. Allchurch
Lance-Corporal Edward Archibald Allchurch, who was killed on April 4, while a prisoner of war, was the son of Mr and Mrs H. Allchurch, Evans Street.
Born in Timaru in November, 1917, Lance-Corporal Allchurch was educated at the Waimataitai School and Timaru Boys’ High School. He took a particular interest in music, being a member of the School band, and later he joined the Timaru Municipal Band. He was a member of Chalmers Church, and took a very active part in Bible Class and Brigade work. A keen runner, he was a member of the Presbyterian Harrier Club. He also devoted a good deal of time to skating, and represented South Canterbury in both roller and ice skating competitions. Lance-Corporal Allchurch was very fond of amateur dramatic work, and he participated in several festivals conducted by the South Canterbury Drama League. As a lad, he was also a keen Sea Scout, being a member of the Endeavour crew which visited Wellington to take part in the Jellicoe Shield competition. In this event the crew gained second place, and were also successful in other events. Before going on active service, he completed five and a half years in the Reserves Department of the Timaru Borough Council.
Lance-Corporal Allchurch left New Zealand in January, 1941, and served in the Libyan campaign, in which he was wounded and taken prisoner in November of the same year. He spent four months in hospital in Italy, and following the capitulation of that country, he was transferred to Germany. -Timaru Herald, 23/6/1945.
The details of Edward Allchurch's death, as supplied by the "Online Cenotaph" are sparse and stark, and differ from those on the family gravestone.
He was shot by guards while attempting to escape from the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
He was buried in the Berlin War Cemetery.
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