Sunday, 22 December 2024

29753 Corporal Thomas Dunlop, (31/10/1885-24/11/1817). "always made the best of things"


On the morning of November 24th our artillery resumed its programme of harassing fire, drawing a vigorous reply from the enemy over our front and support lines. Artillery duels of more or less violence continued at intervals throughout the day, and casualties were much above the normal.  -Official History of the Otago Infantry Regiment.


Mr W. Dunlop, of Pine Bush received advice yesterday that his sixth son, Corporal Thomas Dunlop, had been killed in action on November 24. Corporal Dunlop, who enlisted with the 18th Reinforcements, was born at Pine Bush and educated at the Pine Bush school. Shortly after leaving school he learned the cheesemaking business, and worked at various periods at the Eastern Bush, Te Tua, Tuturau, and Seaward Downs Choose Factories. While at Seaward Downs he took a prominent part in the football club and was one of its playing members. Much sympathy is felt for Corporal Dunlop’s widow and three children, who are residents of Crombie Street, Gore.  -Mataura Ensign, 13/12/1917.


LANCE-CORPL. THOS. DUNLOP. 

General regret was felt throughout the Orepuki district when it became known that Lance-corpl. Thos. Dunlop had paid the great sacrifice and laid down his life for the Empire’s cause. The late Thomas Dunlop, during his residence at Tewaewae, was manager of the local cheese factory, and highly respected by the community for his cheerful disposition and thorough uprightness of character. He took an active interest in every movement for the welfare of the district and all patriotic efforts had the support of “Tom,” both materially and morally. From the early stages of the war he had a great desire to join the colours and “do his bit,” but family ties held him until ultimately he joined the 18th Reinforcements. His thorough conscientiousness found expression in the fact that before joining the local recruiting committee he himself enlisted. The late soldier leaves a widow and three children to whom the sympathy of the Orepuki district is extended in their time of sorrow. — Advocate.   -Southland Times, 24/11/1917.


Mrs T. Dunlop, Crombie street, has received the following letter relative to the death in action of her husband, Corporal T. Dunlop:

Belgium, December 8, 1917. — Dear Madam, — As the officer in charge of the platoon to which your late husband belonged, I would like to express my sincere sympathy with you in your bereavement. I thought it might be of comfort to you to know that your sorrow is shared not only by your loved one’s chums, but by all the officers and men of the 8th Company. Corporal Dunlop had been with me as n.c.o. in my platoon for eight months, and had been of the very greatest assistance to me on many occasions, so you will easily understand that I feel his death as a great personal loss. Just a few hours before the fatal occurrence, while yarning him, he showed me a photo of his children, of whom he was so proud, and, if may say so, you, too, madam, ought to be proud to have had such a husband. He was badly hit by fragments of shell about 4 o'clock in the morning, and although skilled assistance was immediately at hand, he passed away before he reached the dressing station. He now rests in a little cemetery, with others who have made the greatest sacrifice, not so very far from where he fell. All honor to a noble grave! Chaplain-Captain Lopdell tells me that he intends writing, so I will finish this brief note by asking you once more to accept my very deepest sympathy 

Yours sincerely, Second Lieutenant H. Selwyn Kenrick.” 

Mrs Dunlop has received three other letters of sympathy from the front, one being from Chaplain-Captain Lopdell and the others from two of the dead soldier’s chums, Privates H. Wards and J. A. McDonald, one of whom says, “Tom always made the best of things and cheered us many a time by his disposition.”  -Mataura Ensign, 19/2/1918.


Fortrose Cemetery.

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