Format: Person

Linked To

Collection

Image

Dunsandel War Memorial

Recollections

Add

no stories yet

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License

This licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.

Tools

Download Add to My Collection Contact us about this Citation for this item

Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Sergeant Edric Davidson Reid

Description

TitleSergeant Edric Davidson ReidSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionEdric was born at Dunedin 10 December 1894, eldest child and only son of Rev James Swanson and Annie Jane Reid. He was educated mainly at the Kaiapoi District High School, where he gained first a junior and then a senior Board Scholarship. He later attended Boys High School, Christchurch, where he gained a Junior University Scholarship, which he held until he completed the B.A. degree in 1915. Part of his time was spent as a tutor at Gilby's Commercial School. He was greatly esteemed as possessing teaching talents of a very high order. He had previous military experience with the 12th Canterbury Regiment. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He also had a mole on his left thigh.

Edric enlisted at Trentham on 15th December 1915 and was assigned to C Company, 13th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He was promoted to Corporal on 15th December 1915 and then to Sergeant on 6th February 1916. He embarked for England on 31st May and arrived in Devonport on 26th July and then to Sling Camp on 28th where he reverted to the ranks. However, it was probably at this time that he was retained in a Non Commissioned Officers camp at Andover, during which time he topped the list in an examination, in which there were about 800 competitors. Completing the course he was appointed Corporal in August and then Sergeant in September, one day before leaving for France on 26 September. He arrived at Base Depot in Etaples 27th September and joined 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment on 13th October where he relinquished his sergeant’s rank. On 17th July the following year he was promoted to Lance Corporal and then detached to the School of Instruction on 1st August, re-joining the battalion 6 days later. After time in the rest camp he was detached to England for leave on 11th September returning on 25th. After his return from 12 October onward he acted as temporary Sergeant substituting for other NCOs who were either wounded or on leave. He was killed in action on 13th December 1917, aged 23. At this time the 1st Canterbury Battalion took over the sector, called "Judge Cross Roads," and extending from a point opposite "Judge Cottage," 500 yards (457m) south of the point where the front line crossed the Becelaere-Passchendaele road, to a point just north of "Joiner's Rest," and 250 yards (229m) north of the same road. He was at first buried 200 yards (183m) nnw of the Butte and Crucifix but after the war his body was retrieved and buried in the Polygon Wood Cemetery, grave D 8. In New Zealand Edric is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.

First NameEdric DavidsonLast NameReidFamilySingleEldest son of Rev James Swanson and Annie Jane ReidDate of Birth10 December 1894Place of BirthDunedinDate of Death13 December 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death23

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryDunsandel War Memorial Polygon Wood Cemetery, Belgium. Occupation before EnlistingTutorRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details15th December 1915 at Trentham Service Number24104Rank Last HeldSergeantEmbarkation31st May 1916TransportWillochraTofuaTheatre of WarFranceReinforcement13th ReinforcementsNominal Roll33/10CountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. Seaton Taken FromImage taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license

Menu

Sergeant Edric Davidson Reid