Pte
John Murray Eaglesome
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 05/10/1891 |
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Place of birth: Prebbleton, Canterbury, New Zealand |
General information
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Last known residence: Hororata, Canterbury, New Zealand |
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Profession: Engine Driver |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 26255 |
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Enlistment date: 31/05/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Canterbury Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Marsh Bottom, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: 31 Row: C Grave: 14 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John Murray Eaglesome was born on 5 October 1891 in Prebbleton, Canterbury, New Zealand. He was the son of William Murray and Ellen Eaglesome and the husband of Grace May Eaglesome. Before enlisting, he worked as an engine driver. On 31 May 1916, he enlisted at the age of 24 in Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand. He was subsequently posted to the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division.
John was killed in action on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, which was part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 11 October, the officers of the attacking New Zealand battalions were briefed for the final time on their objectives for 12 October. On that day, the New Zealanders' goal was to capture three objective lines near Bellevue Spur and Mosselmarkt. The first objective line ran from the Ravebeek near Waterfields to Bellevue and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment. The second objective line ran from Graf near Meetcheele to 365 metres southwest of Mosselmarkt and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Otago Regiment. The third and final objective line ran from north of Passchendaele to Vindictive Crossroads and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment. On the day of the attack, the troops of the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment were to remain in reserve and only advance to support when necessary.
At 8.30 p.m. on 11 October, the troops of the attacking battalions were in their start positions at Marsh Bottom. Throughout the night, intermittent rain continued, and the stormy weather persisted until the moment of the attack. At 5.25 a.m., the attack began under a light Allied barrage. Soon after the attack began, it became apparent that it would be a massacre. The Germans opened up with intense machine-gun fire on the advancing troops, and much of the barbed wire remained intact. Several bunkers near Bellevue also opened up a murderous fire. The 2nd and 12th Companies of the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment were ordered forward to assist in the attack. Attempts to break through the German positions on the right and left flanks resulted only in more casualties among the New Zealand ranks. By 11.00 a.m., all units were involved in the attack, but no further breakthrough could be made. Any movement in sight of the enemy resulted in casualties. It was decided not to advance further and to consolidate the line where the troops were now located, between Marsh Bottom and Bellevue. At 12.45 p.m., orders were received to continue the attack at 3.00 p.m. These orders were eventually withdrawn following a conference between the commanding officers. At 4.00 p.m., a reorganisation of the front line was ordered. The 1st and 2nd Battalions Otago Regiment remained in the front line, and the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment was withdrawn to two lines running from Calgary Grange and Korek to the present-day ’s Graventafelstraat. The three objective lines of the day remained firmly in German hands. In the evening, the rain began again, and the front became quiet. On 13 October, the wounded from the battlefield were evacuated, and two companies were sent to fill a gap in the front line. The following day, the battalion was taken out of the front line. The battalion lost 109 killed and 267 wounded.
John was killed at the age of 26. His body was found after the war at Marsh Bottom and was subsequently reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXI, C, 14.
John was killed in action on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, which was part of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 11 October, the officers of the attacking New Zealand battalions were briefed for the final time on their objectives for 12 October. On that day, the New Zealanders' goal was to capture three objective lines near Bellevue Spur and Mosselmarkt. The first objective line ran from the Ravebeek near Waterfields to Bellevue and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment. The second objective line ran from Graf near Meetcheele to 365 metres southwest of Mosselmarkt and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Otago Regiment. The third and final objective line ran from north of Passchendaele to Vindictive Crossroads and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment. On the day of the attack, the troops of the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment were to remain in reserve and only advance to support when necessary.
At 8.30 p.m. on 11 October, the troops of the attacking battalions were in their start positions at Marsh Bottom. Throughout the night, intermittent rain continued, and the stormy weather persisted until the moment of the attack. At 5.25 a.m., the attack began under a light Allied barrage. Soon after the attack began, it became apparent that it would be a massacre. The Germans opened up with intense machine-gun fire on the advancing troops, and much of the barbed wire remained intact. Several bunkers near Bellevue also opened up a murderous fire. The 2nd and 12th Companies of the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment were ordered forward to assist in the attack. Attempts to break through the German positions on the right and left flanks resulted only in more casualties among the New Zealand ranks. By 11.00 a.m., all units were involved in the attack, but no further breakthrough could be made. Any movement in sight of the enemy resulted in casualties. It was decided not to advance further and to consolidate the line where the troops were now located, between Marsh Bottom and Bellevue. At 12.45 p.m., orders were received to continue the attack at 3.00 p.m. These orders were eventually withdrawn following a conference between the commanding officers. At 4.00 p.m., a reorganisation of the front line was ordered. The 1st and 2nd Battalions Otago Regiment remained in the front line, and the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment was withdrawn to two lines running from Calgary Grange and Korek to the present-day ’s Graventafelstraat. The three objective lines of the day remained firmly in German hands. In the evening, the rain began again, and the front became quiet. On 13 October, the wounded from the battlefield were evacuated, and two companies were sent to fill a gap in the front line. The following day, the battalion was taken out of the front line. The battalion lost 109 killed and 267 wounded.
John was killed at the age of 26. His body was found after the war at Marsh Bottom and was subsequently reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXI, C, 14.
Sources 5
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2 Canterbury Infantry Battalion - War Diary, 1 - 31 October 1917 (Archives NZ/WA78/box124/R23624788) https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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Ferguson David, The History of the Canterbury Regiment, NZEF 1914-1919, (Uckfield: the Naval & Military Press Ltd, RidgewoodIndustrial Park, 1921), 183-204. Sources used |
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Headquarters New Zealand and Australian Division - New Zealand Division - General Staff - War Diary, 1 October - 31 October 1917 (Archives NZ/WA20/box21/R23487439) https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 129-32. Sources used |
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New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), box 62, R20999873). https://www.archives.govt.nz/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462651 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=5f23749c-87bf-4d38-91d4-06d28217ffdd |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7174011 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=73155 |