LIEUTENANT EGGLESTONE.
In the latest report of wounded is Lieutenant Richard Ewen Egglestone, whose parents reside in Cargill street, Dunedin, and who is well known in Lawrence and Dunedin. He was born in Lawrence and educated at the Lawrence District High School. Before enlistment Mr Egglestone was employed in the Telegraph Department at Lawrence, and latterly at Dunedin. He was well known in amateur athletic circles, holding the 100 yards championship of New Zealand, beating Ronald Opie. Previous to leaving for the Dardanelles he was censor at Suez. Lieutenant Egglestone was one of the first to volunteer for the front in New Zealand, and his many friends will be anxiously awaiting his speedy recovery. -Otago Daily Times, 13/5/1915.
ATHLETICS.
By Amateur,
The news that counts these war times is fraught with unusual and sad interest. Many local athletes are in the midst of the fighting at the Dardanelles, and daily we are learning through the Defence Department that some of the best known have been wounded. Last week news came through that Lieutenant Egglestone had been wounded in action. Everyone who takes an interest in amateur athletics knows Dick Egglestone, the Otago sprinter and ex-New Zealand 100 yards champion. Egglestone was one of the most promising sprinters the province ever produced — not that it has not turned out many, but Egglestone was exceptionally promising. He flashed into the athletic world in a season, and put up such good performances that was regarded as a champion who would long hold the sprint honours in Otago. An unfortunate illness handicapped Egglestone the following season, and he dropped out of active track work altogether. One of his best performances, apart from his defeating Opie in the Ncw Zealand Championship Hundred at Invercargill, was his defeat of Troupe, the Victorian sprinter, on the Caledonian track. Egglestone simply left the Victorian, and ran in such an easy winner that a prominent Australian authority who was present and saw the race said to the writer: "There's the best and most promising sprinter I've seen in New Zealand." Which was perfectly true; but Egglestone left the track too soon to win the reputation which his early successes promised. Prior to leaving Dunedin with the first New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Egglestone jocularly remarked to Mr W. Rudkin, the well-known D.A.A.C. starter: "My word. Hilly, when we hear the guns out there there will be no flying start and no getting back a yard." "No." interjected his bosom chum, also an ex-New Zealand champion, now on General Godley's staff in Egypt, "when we hear the guns we will want to be put back a yard!" Well, Egglestone has been wounded, and we may be sure he got it sprinting towards the enemy, even if he was put back a yard at the firing of the first gun. -Otago Daily Times, 20/5/1915.
Richard was initially reported as wounded and then "missing." His death was the verdict of a Court of Enquiry convened in Egypt in December, 1915, with the words "Reasonable to suppose killed in action." The Otagos' Official History has this to say about the action in which he died: "The advance was to be directed towards the enemy position generally known as Baby 700; but with the exception of 4th Company, which was leading in the attack, the direction followed by the assaulting troops ultimately proved to be too far to the right. The advance of 4th Company continued almost unchecked for a distance of from 200 to 300 yards. The first of the enemy trench systems which defended Baby 700 was reached; but the Turks, who previously had withheld their fire, now swept the ranks of the attacking force with deadly effect. Against this sudden burst of machine gun and rifle fire, which, owing to the fact that the Turkish position was sited on a curve, was delivered in enfilade as well as from front, the attack was abruptly smashed. It was at this stage that Major R. Price, commanding 4th Company, Captain A. V. Spedding, and Lieut. R. E. Egglestone were killed."
It is possible that Richard was seen to fall from the "sudden burst of machine gun fire" and not seen again.
It is with deep regret that we now learn that Lieutenant R. Egglestone, the Otago sprinter and ex-New Zealand champion, is amongst the missing. Let us hope that if he is a Prisoner in the Turkish camp he will take the first opportunity to break the 100 yards world's record in a dash for the New Zealand lines, and pray us he gets through. -Otago Daily Times, 27/5/1915.
It was about this time that news was received that Valentine Egglestone had been killed.
THE DARDANELLES
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPTAIN EGGLESTONE.
Captain Valentine Joseph Egglestone, who was reported yesterday as having been killed in action at the Dardanelles, was a son of Mr Joseph Egglestone, of 135 Cargill street. Deceased was born at Lawrence, where he received his primary and secondary education. When the latter was completed the family removed to Dunedin, and "Val," as he was familiarly known among his companions, was apprenticed to the grocery trade with the firm of Wardell Bros. He remained with this firm for a period of four years and a-half. He then joined the staff of Messrs Donald Reid and Co., but shortly afterwards entered the service of Mollisons, where he was employed when he joined the Main Expeditionary Force. He occupied the position of colour-sergeant in the infantry section when the Otago men were in camp at Tahuna Park, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-quartermaster the day prior to embarkation. He received further promotion to the rank of captain, a position he held at the time of his death. He was a strapping young fellow, and was only 22 years of age. Another brother, Lieutenant R. E. Egglestone, who was in charge of a signalling squad with the Main Expeditionary Force, was reported missing a few days after the landing at Gallipoli, and has not since been heard of. Mr Egglestone, sen., was advised of his son's death yesterday. -Otago Daily Times, 11/6/1915.
Nowhere on the Peninsula, at least in the early days of the Campaign, was immune from Turkish shellfire. It is likely that this was the cause of Valentine's death, as reported in the Official History: "On June 9th reinforcements, the 4th, were received to the number of four officers and 239 other ranks. Owing to the reduced strength of the Regiment these were urgently required. There was a daily toll of casualties, even under what might be regarded, in a comparative sense only, as normal conditions. On the morning of June 5th Captain V. J. Egglestone, Battalion Quartermaster, who had rejoined the Regiment when it was at Helles, was killed while drawing rations at the Brigade Dump. Lieut. A. C. Boyes succeeded to the post of Quartermaster."
IN MEMORIAM.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
EGGLESTONE. — In loving memory of Captain Valentine Joseph Egglestone, 4th Otago Battalion, killed in action at Gallipoli, June 5th, 1915.
No more the clash of arms or shriek of shell, No more the storm and stress of life.
The bell has tolled the soldier's passing knell, And tragic death bequeaths eternal life.
— Inserted by a loving friend. -Evening Star, 5/6/1916.
To Let
8-ROOMED HOUSE (Cargill street), with hot and cold water, bath, basins, sink, and tubs; good flower and vegetable garden. — Mr Egglestone, Cargill street. -Otago Daily Times, 8/6/1916.
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