Ernest Eggleston (1895-1919)
Second Lieutenant who served with the 20th DLI died in Cologne in 1919
Ernest Eggleston, the son of Joshua and Jane Eggleston, was born in Roker, Sunderland, County Durham, early in 1895. He had three brothers and three sisters and lived in the Roker Park area of Sunderland all his life until he joined the army. He and his siblings lived with various relations after the death of their father in 1908.
Early in 1916 he enlisted in the London Regiment (later to become the 14th (County of London) Battalion of the London Scottish Regiment), being later promoted to lance-corporal and he landed in France on 10 July 1916. On 29 October 1918 he was commissioned in the field as a 2nd lieutenant and was accidentally killed on the ranges at Cologne on 2 May 1919. He was buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery and the attached photograph shows a moment from his funeral.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, page for Cologne Southern Cemetery
https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/34600/cologne-southern-cemetery/
Civil Parish: Sunderland
Birth date: 1895
Death date: 2-Jun-1919
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Roker Farm, Sunderland, Durham (1901 census)
5 North Road, Sunderland, Durham (1911 census)
Education: Bede Collegiate School, Sunderland
Family: Father: Joshua Eggleston
Mother: Jane Eggleston (nee Gibson)
Siblings: Arthur, Eva, May, Vincent, Rita & Herbert Eggleston
Military service:
14th (County of London) Battalion, London Scottish Regiment
Service Nos.: 6711 & 512793
Lance-Corporal
20th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
2nd Lieutenant
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): 1914-1918 Memorial Plaque, Bede Collegiate School, Sunderland
Cologne Southern Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Grave Ref.: I.F.25
D.L.I. 1914-1918 Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Holy Trinity Church 1914-1918 Book of Remembrance, Sunderland
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Sheen | Durham at War Volunteer | John Edwards
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Thank you so much for researching and posting this information regarding Ernest Eggleston. Ernest was my father's (Leonard Gibson) cousin and lived with my Dad's family for a number of years before WW1. Incidentally, the address for the 1911 census should read Grove rather than Road. As a young boy, my father idolised his cousin and was absolutely devastated when the family learnt of his death six months after the ending of hostilities on the Western Front. As I understand it, Ernest was accidentally shot on a practice range or perhaps during manoeuvres. Towards the end of my dad's life (in 1985) this incident, but also his early childhood memories of Ernest, were at the forefront of his mind. I have always wanted to learn a little more about Ernest, so thank you for filling in a few more details.
Contributed by
a.gibson
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