In Dunedin's Southern Cemetery two soldiers with different surnames are commemorated on the same stone. A little research reveals the relationship between them and one of the most unusual deaths I have found so far.
LIEUTENANT-SURGEON WEBB KILLED.
(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, November 19. News has been received of the accidental death of Lieutenant-Surgeon Ernest John Herbert Webb, of the main New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Deceased, who was 33 years of age, was the son of Mr Herbert Webb, solicitor, of Dunedin, and a brother of Mr H. H. Webb, solicitor, of Wellington; Dr. Webb, of Martinborough, and Mr Webb, accountant, of Invercargill. He qualified at Dunedin this year. -Press, 20/11/1914.
The bare details reported above tell little of the story of Ernest Webb's unfortunate accident. It was not until letters began to arrive from soldiers overseas that the circumstances were revealed.
A son of Mr L. B. Grimstone, of Eltham, who was a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the Arawa, in a letter, gives some details of the sad death of Dr Webb. It was during the usual humorous ceremonies connected with crossing the line when homage has to be paid to "Father Neptune." Mr Grimstone says: "Dr Webb elected to jump into the bath in preference to being thrown in. But instead of jumping he dived, evidently thinking the water to be deeper than it was. He hit the deck beneath the canvas bath with terrific force, and dislocated his neck." -Wairarapa Daily Times, 24/12/1914.
ON THE ROAD TO EGYPT.
FIRST GLIMPSES OF THE ORIENT,
THE CALL AT COLOMBO
INCIDENTS OF SHIPBOARD LIFE
ARRIVAL AT ALEXANDRIA
(By Chaplain-Major Grant.) (excerpt)
On Thursday a short memorial service was held on board each of the New Zealand transports to synchronise with the military funeral of Lieut. (Dr.) Webb, which was being held at Colombo, where he died, the result of an accident on board the Arawa on the day of the Neptune festivities. From what we can learn the accident happened very simply. He dived from a horse-box into a shallow canvas bath prepared for the festivities, and dislocated his neck. He was conscious all the time, and bore himself with manly fortitude, although he knew there was little hope of recovery. All of us who knew him esteemed him very highly for his personal qualities, and mourn a promising young career cut short. He was with us at Awapuni and Trentham. Much sympathy will be felt for his relatives and friends. -Poverty Bay Herald, 4/2/1915.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Malone, who died leading the Wellington Regiment on Chunuk Bair the following August, wrote of Dr Webb in his diary: "paralysed from the shoulders down. A really good able fellow. I like him and we often took a walk together. We are all very sad."
The relationship between Ernest Webb and Herbert Morley is an easy one to find:
MARRIAGE.
MORLEY—WEBB. — On January 19, at the Presbyterian Church, Kelburne, Wellington, by the Rev. A. Standage, Herbert Morley, Tenth Reinforcements, to Hughina Mary, eldest daughter of Herbert Webb, solicitor, Dunedin. -Otago Daily Times, 4/2/1916.
Herbert went to France with the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment. He was wounded by a bullet in the shoulder the day before the Otagos attacked in the Battle of the Somme in September, 1916, but was out of the line for less than a month. Herbert's Army Record describes his death as "killed in the field" and nothing more. His death occured two days before the Otagos left the line for a rest at the end of the Battle of Messines on June 9th, at a place called "Red Lodge." His place of death - Herbert has no known grave - is mentioned in the following reminiscence published three years later and written by one who fought, if not alongside, certainly near to Herbert.
MESSINES
WITH THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION.
(Contributed.) On every hand the war is being fast forgotten. With it goes the old spirit of comradeship. Yet it is but a bare three years since the battle of Messines was fought — a battle ever to be a milestone in New Zealand's history. In order to stay forgetfulness this article is written. It is hoped that the recalling of places and names will not be without interest, not only to those who were with the division at the times mentioned or at any time, but also to those who lost sons or brothers at Messines or elsewhere.
Messines. Is it but three years ago. Why, it seems an age. One scarce remembers it.
Fleurbai, Laventie, L Bizet,. Ploegsteert. Ah, old "Plugstreet." That brings it back a little. Hyde Park- Corner, Red Lodge, Bulford, Kortepyp, and Regina Camps. The old names: how they come flooding back. Hill 63, with the old Catacombs, De Seule, Romarin, Brune Gaye, Canteen Corner. How do they look to-day? The old. "Froggies" — do they ever give a thought for the Neuvelle Zelanders? Jean, Henri, and Paul, we expect, hold sway with the mademoiselles, now-a-days. But, Madame, perhaps, has a kindly thought for us occasionally. Do you recollect the little villages near St. Omer where we trained for Messines? What of the march back there? You, whe were First Brigade, will recall marching past General Godley near Vieux Berquin — the horse show at Strazeelt — the few days' stay at Petit sec Bois — then the three weeks' training near St. Omer. For the most part there was glorious weather, and everyone was as fit as a fiddle. Then the march back: Arques, Zutpenne, and Pettit ec Bois again. With full marching order and steel helmets, it was warn work. How splendid in the spring and summer was France, with its beautiful trees, intense cultivation, and fields of ripening corn. Back to De Seule again. From De Seule to Hill 69 what preparations had been made. Dumps everywhere, shells everywhere; guns almost wheel to wheel. Yet the Hun seemed in blissful ignorance of it all, for he put comparatively little real "hate" over. Oh, yes, of course, gas. Have you forgotten the noise of a bursting gas shell? No, not mustard gas, only phosgene and lachrymatory shells, for we used only the mouthpieces of ouir S.B.R.'s then — a thing we dared never do a few weeks later. Then the "stunt" itself. My God, what a weight a man had to carry into action — fighting-kit, rations, iron rations, field dressing, S.A.A., bombs, rifle grenades, flare pistol, flares, and a spade or a pick. How did we feel? No, not "windy," or, at least, not very "windy." Nervous, perhaps, and anxious that the stunt should be a success; but as zero drew on, everything gave way to a feeling of courage and confidence — even elation. How low the contact plates flew that morning. Zero. Will you ever forget that? The explosion of the mines; the roar of our barrage as, on the instant, every gun opened out: just one continuous, deafening roar, with the occasional deep bark of a twelve-inch "How." It was indescribable.
What good fellows fell that day, and on the days that followed. Many, old comrades since Gallipoli. Not our men alone, but many of our old comrades, the "Aussies," and men of the Irish Division.
Then, when our advance was complete, with what fierceness did the Hun pound that heap of rubble; which once was the village of Messines, and the whole countryside around.
What a relief to be out of the tornado of battle — back to Bulford, Kortepyp, or Regina Camps, or Brune Gaye, or Romarin. The excitement of battle gave way to a feeling of deep exhaustion — some of us too tired to eat, hungry though we were — sleep our only desire. Then, next day, less tired than before, how eagerly we devoured the English papers with their lurid accounts of the battle the battle out of which we had just come.
In the days to come, what pilgrimages there will be to the graves of old and loved comrades. Some brave men lie at Prowse Point: others at Red Lodge, Charing Cross, and Mud Lane, while others again lie one knows not where, for all over the field of battle New Zealand blood was poured forth freely. Wherever they lie, they died as any man might wish to die. -Dominion, 4/6/1920.
FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE.
DEATHS.
MORLEY. — On June 7, killed while in action "Somewhere in France," Herbert Morley (10th Reinforcements). -Otago Daily Times, 27/6/1917.
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