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FULL NAME: Private Wallace Neville Glasgow BORN: 1892 PLACE OF BIRTH: Tuakau, New Zealand WAR: World War I, 1914-1918 SERIAL NUMBER: 13/2322 MARRIAGE: To Elsie May Hunter in 1913. ADDRESS AT ENLISTMENT: Onewhero, New Zealand FAMILY: Son of Amy Alice (nee Gurney) and William Glasgow, Tuakau, New Zealand. Brother of Amy, William Charles Stewart, Robert, Alfred, Daisy, Lily and Malcolm Bruce (MB). EMBARKATION DATE: 9 October 1915 PLACE OF EMBARKATION: Wellington, New Zealand VESSEL: Aparima or Navua or Warrimoo PLACE OF DEATH: Somme, France DATE OF DEATH: 15 September 1916 CAUSE OF DEATH: Killed in action CEMETERY NAME: Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, Somme, France |
Newspaper Account of Wallace Glasgow's LifeTrooper Wallace Neville Glasgow was twenty-four years of age when killed. He was the third son of Mr W. Glasgow, now a resident of Tuakau. He was born at Onewhero and was educated at the Onewhero public school.He was married in March 1913 to Elsie May, daughter of Mr G. Hunter of Onewhero, and there are two children boys of the marriage, one having been born since he left with the Seventh Reinforcements. At the time of his enlistment he was managing Mr Fred Lawson's farm at Wairamarama. He was a well-known rugby player and tennis player and was secretary of the local Athletic Club. Whilst Trooper Glasgow was home on final leave news arrived that his brother, Stewart, who had served at Gallipoli, had died in Egypt from typhoid. Newspaper Account of Wallace Glasgow's DeathWhen the advance started Wallace sorted me out and we went across No-Man's Land together. When we came to our objective Wallace killed several of the enemy, and thinking the opposition wasn't sufficient he went on forward and beckoned me to follow. Well, we got into our own barrage but got out again all right and continued on (there were seven of us and one officer).Then we were so far ahead of the whole attack that we were continually being sniped at by Germans who were too far away to be affected by our present advance. Still we continued on, until it got too hot and we had to take to the communications trench of Fritz's. We continued down that with an object of forcing an entrance to his trench. About three parts down there was a branch trench, and thinking we had come to his third line, we started up it. A few yards along there was a block in the trench and a small trench leading round it. We continued around this trench, but Wallace and another chap decided to go across the block. The other chap got across all right, but as Wallace was rushing across a sniper got him through the right nipple, the bullet coming out the back. I went a bit further round and told the officer about it. He nearly went mad with rage. He said at the time, 'What a pity, such a fine fellow as that'. We got a German stretcher and got him back to our new position with a little difficulty, but he was too far gone and very shortly died. We made two German prisoners carry him well back to the cemetery to make sure he got a burial, which he did. I am glad to say that during the day or since I have not met a braver or cooler man. A Letter to His WifeDear Mrs Glasgow... From the personal loss some of us feel I know how great must be the blow to you through your husband's death. I cannot comfort you but I would like you to know - and I write as his officer - that he was as brave a young man as I have met. He stood up in the open and urged on his comrades. He and a few others were with me near Flers when he was shot. He was so brave that, though mortally wounded, he would not collapse, but made an heroic effort to keep on his feet. We attended to him and got him out after great trouble from well in advance of our lines. His two friends, Corporals Watson and Closey, took great risks for his sake. But though successful in getting him back he died before he could reach a hospital. All that could be done was done and I assure you that nothing could have saved him after he was struck. Loving hearts tended him and strong hearts mourn his loss. Try and take comfort from the fact that he died as a soldier and a man in the cause of his own people. I hope this knowledge will help to sustain you in your loss. Second-Lieut. G. A. Tuck. |
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