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Driver Robert James Eaglesome
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TitleDriver Robert James EaglesomeSummaryA soldier in World War One.DescriptionRobert was born at Prebbleton on 27 October 1894, son of William and Helen Eaglesome. He was educated at the district school and after leaving school he was employed by the Paparoa County Council. His last employer was John Greenslade of Prebbleton. He did have previous military experience with the Territorials, although he did not specify the regiment. He was 5ft 4½in tall with a light complexion, light blue eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a scar on his right thumb.
Robert enlisted on 16 June 1915 and was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He was unwell in camp at Trentham with a sore throat and was granted sick leave from 19 to 30 July. He embarked with the Mounted Rifles on board SS Tofua bound for Suez, arriving there on 19 September. He arrived at Gallipoli and was posted to the 1st Squadron Mounted Rifles on 13 November 1915. He survived the fighting and was evacuated, disembarking at Alexandria on Boxing Day 1915. In Egypt he was part of the re-organisation of forces and was transferred to 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column 8th March 1916. He duly embarked for France on board Eboe on 7 April 1916. Surviving through the Somme and Messines battles he was sent to hospital on 15 July with pleurisy, admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance and then to Rouen to No.11 Stationary Hospital from where he was sent to England on board Hospital ship Paunui on 26 July. The next day he was admitted to No 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. It was 7 September before he was well enough to be sent to the convalescent hospital at Hornchurch and from there to Aldershot on 18 October. More treatment was required at Codford and it was 25 February before he was discharged and sent back to Aldershot. He obviously felt the need for a bit of a break from hospitals for on 25 February 1918 he was absent without leave overnight and most of the following day leading to forfeiture of two day’s pay and four days confined to Barracks. It is to be hoped that he had a good time for a few days later on 28 February he was admitted to hospital again, being placed on the seriously ill list on 6 March. Then on 20 March he was placed on the dangerously ill list with 'suspected enteritis'. He improved briefly but was dangerously ill again by 8 April, this time diagnosed as 'suspected paratyphoid'. He was moved to the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot on 20 May still dangerously ill, but although they opened and drained a large abdominal abscess causing an intestinal perforation, it did not help him and he died there from peritonitis on 27 May, aged 24. In the days before antibiotics options to overcome the infection were limited. He was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire England. In New Zealand Robert is remembered on the Prebbleton War Memorial.
During both wars, numerous regimental and corps depots were based in and around Aldershot. At the outbreak of the First World War, it was the headquarters of the Aldershot Command and of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, and the Depot of the Royal Army Medical Corps. The North and South Camps, divided by the Basingstoke Canal, remained in full activity throughout the War. During the Second World War, some 400,000 Canadian servicemen were trained there. Aldershot Military Cemetery is a permanent military cemetery, the property of the Ministry of Defence. The Commission is responsible for the care of graves of both world wars within the cemetery. There are 690 First World War graves in the cemetery, the earliest bears the date 5 August 1914, and the latest 11th August 1921. Many of these graves are in plot AF. The 129 Second World War graves are in groups in various plots, the largest group in plot A containing 86 graves.First NameRobert JamesLast NameEaglesomeFamilySingleSon of William and Helen (nee Eaglesome, of Springbank, North Canterbury. William Eaglesome (father), Prebbleton, Canterbury.Date of Birth27 October 1894Place of BirthPrebbletonDate of Death27 May 1918Place of DeathAldershot, Hampshire, EnglandCause of DeathDied of diseaseAge at Death24Other Biographical InformationHis brother John Murray Eaglesome also fell.
Robert enlisted on 16 June 1915 and was assigned to the 6th Reinforcements Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He was unwell in camp at Trentham with a sore throat and was granted sick leave from 19 to 30 July. He embarked with the Mounted Rifles on board SS Tofua bound for Suez, arriving there on 19 September. He arrived at Gallipoli and was posted to the 1st Squadron Mounted Rifles on 13 November 1915. He survived the fighting and was evacuated, disembarking at Alexandria on Boxing Day 1915. In Egypt he was part of the re-organisation of forces and was transferred to 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column 8th March 1916. He duly embarked for France on board Eboe on 7 April 1916. Surviving through the Somme and Messines battles he was sent to hospital on 15 July with pleurisy, admitted to No 4 NZ Field Ambulance and then to Rouen to No.11 Stationary Hospital from where he was sent to England on board Hospital ship Paunui on 26 July. The next day he was admitted to No 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. It was 7 September before he was well enough to be sent to the convalescent hospital at Hornchurch and from there to Aldershot on 18 October. More treatment was required at Codford and it was 25 February before he was discharged and sent back to Aldershot. He obviously felt the need for a bit of a break from hospitals for on 25 February 1918 he was absent without leave overnight and most of the following day leading to forfeiture of two day’s pay and four days confined to Barracks. It is to be hoped that he had a good time for a few days later on 28 February he was admitted to hospital again, being placed on the seriously ill list on 6 March. Then on 20 March he was placed on the dangerously ill list with 'suspected enteritis'. He improved briefly but was dangerously ill again by 8 April, this time diagnosed as 'suspected paratyphoid'. He was moved to the Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot on 20 May still dangerously ill, but although they opened and drained a large abdominal abscess causing an intestinal perforation, it did not help him and he died there from peritonitis on 27 May, aged 24. In the days before antibiotics options to overcome the infection were limited. He was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire England. In New Zealand Robert is remembered on the Prebbleton War Memorial.
During both wars, numerous regimental and corps depots were based in and around Aldershot. At the outbreak of the First World War, it was the headquarters of the Aldershot Command and of the 1st and 2nd Divisions, and the Depot of the Royal Army Medical Corps. The North and South Camps, divided by the Basingstoke Canal, remained in full activity throughout the War. During the Second World War, some 400,000 Canadian servicemen were trained there. Aldershot Military Cemetery is a permanent military cemetery, the property of the Ministry of Defence. The Commission is responsible for the care of graves of both world wars within the cemetery. There are 690 First World War graves in the cemetery, the earliest bears the date 5 August 1914, and the latest 11th August 1921. Many of these graves are in plot AF. The 129 Second World War graves are in groups in various plots, the largest group in plot A containing 86 graves.First NameRobert JamesLast NameEaglesomeFamilySingleSon of William and Helen (nee Eaglesome, of Springbank, North Canterbury. William Eaglesome (father), Prebbleton, Canterbury.Date of Birth27 October 1894Place of BirthPrebbletonDate of Death27 May 1918Place of DeathAldershot, Hampshire, EnglandCause of DeathDied of diseaseAge at Death24Other Biographical InformationHis brother John Murray Eaglesome also fell.
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OnePersonPrivate John Murray EaglesomeMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryAldershot Military CemeteryPrebbleton War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingLabourerRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Field ArtilleryEnlistment Details16th June 1915Service Number7/1549Rank Last HeldDriverPlace of EmbarkationWellingtonTransportTofuaWillochraTheatre of WarGallipoliNominal Roll207CountryNew Zealand
Driver Robert James Eaglesome. Selwyn Stories, accessed 13/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/449
