Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Eric Joseph Livingstone was born on 21 September 1897 at Timaru, the youngest son of Irish parents, Thomas and Mary Ann (née Potts) Livingstone. Thomas and Mary Ann were married in 1874 in Ireland and their first child was born in 1875 in New Zealand. By the Otago Police Gazette of 10 June 1875, Thomas Livingstone had been appointed a constable with the New Zealand Police Force. The Livingstone family, therefore, moved about the South Island, and even briefly to Gisborne, and the children attended many schools. Sergeant Thomas Livingstone took up detective duty at Timaru in March 1890. His longest posting was to be at Timaru where he held many positions. In mid-1902, Detective T. Livingstone was transferred to Dunedin. He moved to Lyttelton in 1906 and into Christchurch in 1908. After thirty-five years in the Police Force, Detective Livingstone retired at the end of June 1910 and intended living with his sons at Fendalton. Eric started at High Street Dunedin School at the beginning of the 1903 school year. By 1906 he was at Lyttelton and transferred to Christchurch Normal in August 1908 and then on to West Christchurch DHS in 1911, leaving there at the end of 1914, for and Christchurch Boys’ High School.

An interesting ceremony took place at the West Christchurch District High School on the afternoon of 25 May 1911, when medals were presented to winners of the “Hall Challenge Shield” for lifesaving (for competition among primary and secondary schools for boys under fifteen years of age). The school was heartily congratulated on winning the shield, the value of a knowledge of swimming and life-saving tactics being emphasised. Amidst applause, the medals were presented to the team which included Eric Livingstone. Eric was again a member of the West Christchurch School team which won the shield in 1912. At the West Christchurch District High School swimming sports (Secondary Department) in March 1913, Eric was placed first in Object Diving, Four Lengths Championship and 440 Yards, and he covered three miles in the Long Distance Swimming event. At the 1913 school prize-giving, as a member of the team for the seven-a-side football competition for District High Schools, he received a General Prize. In February 1914, Master Eric Livingstone won the swimming championship of the West Christchurch District High School for the third year in succession. In 1914 at West Christchurch School, he gained the cup for the best all-round boy. He was a powerful swimmer and held many medals for life-saving and swimming. Later in the year, he was awarded the Albion Club’s medal for best forward (or back) in the school competition.

The Public Service entrance examination was held from 18 November 1914. Among the successful candidates was Eric Joseph Livingstone, Christchurch. In January 1916, he passed in two subjects in the Public Service Senior examinations (for senior free places). It was at the annual swimming carnival of the Boys’ High School in March 1915, that he finished first in the 200 yards handicap and second in the 25 yards dash. At the annual meeting of the West Christchurch High School Old Boys’ Association in June 1915, E. Livingstone was elected to the committee. And the cup presented by the Association to the boy in the secondary department showing the highest degree of excellence in and out of school was awarded to Eric Livingstone. In July 1915, he represented the Boys’ High School (three-quarters position) in the annual football match against Christ’s College. He represented the school again in August when they lost the final, but were not disgraced, in the President’s Cup competition. In 1916, Eric was playing his rugby in the backs for Old Boys Seniors. The game against Marists on 20 May, when play was limited to men under twenty but was well above Senior form, was extremely fast and exhilarating. The match played on 17 June resulted in a win for Old Boys, Livingstone making his mark on the game. They had a very convincing win in muddy conditions on 1 July, Livingstone scoring tries in each half. As part of the Boys’ High School annual athletic sports in October 1916, an event was held for members of Old Boys’ Football Club – 100 Yards Handicap, in which Eric finished third. When the East Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club decided the third race of the season – a 66 2-3 yds handicap — at the Tepid Baths on 11 December 1916, there was some good swimming and fast times. Eric Livingstone won his heat and then the final. He was to the fore again at the club’s aquatic carnival at the Tepid Baths on 12 April 1917, in aid of the Red Cross Funds. Eric was also a promising member of the Canterbury Rowing Club, and a fine footballer, having played for the B. H. S. first fifteen and for Old Boys.

Having been medically examined, Eric Joseph Livingstone enlisted at Christchurch on 7 August 1917, a few weeks before his twentieth birthday. Standing at 5 feet 7½ inches and weighing 156 pounds, with a chest measurement of 35½-40½ inches, he had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health but not vaccinated. A stock clerk for the NZ Farmers Co-operative at Christchurch, single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs M. A. Livingstone, 436 Durham Street, St Albans, Christchurch. He belonged to the 1st Canterbury Regiment. On 20 August 1917 he was among the Canterbury men (Infantry) who paraded at the King Edward Barracks before departing for the training camps of the North Island. In September Private E. J. Livingstone, who had been posted to the 31st Reinforcements, was appointed a probationary corporal for the 37th Infantry Reinforcements, to which he had been transferred. On 30 November 1917, while at Trentham Camp, he was admitted to Cottage Hospital with Vincents Angina; he was discharged on 11 December 1917. Further transfers occurred in January and February 1918.

Corporal E. J. Livingstone embarked with the 35th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Foreign Service per the “Tofua” on 2 March 1918. Disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 8 April, he marched into the Australian Camp and was posted to Strength. Just a week later he went to hospital at Suez, sick with measles. Discharged on 28 April and rejoining, he embarked at Suez on 30 April and disembarked at Southampton on 15 May. He marched into Durrington and reverted to the rank of lance corporal. On 6 July 1918 he marched into Sling and joined the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. After marching into Larkhill on 20 August, he left for France on 10 September and was attached to Strength at Etaples. Relinquishing the appointment of Lance Corporal at his own request, Private Livingstone joined his Battalion in the Field on 16 September.

Having spent his 21st birthday in France, Private Eric Joseph Livingstone was killed in action at Le Cateau only a month later, on 23 October 1918. He was buried first in an isolated grave at Pont a Pierres, nearly 3 miles from Le Quesnoy, then at Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension in France. There is a photograph of Eric Joseph Livingstone printed in Volume I of Onward: Portraits of the NZEF.

On 3 June 1918, he stated that he had already made a Will which was held by the Public Trustee, Christchurch. His was the briefest of wills (dated 27 February 1918) - bequeathing all of his estate to his mother, Mary Ann Livingstone, and, if she should predecease him, to his father, Thomas Matthew Livingstone. His estate consisted of only a life policy valued at £150. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to his father. The plaque and scroll, however, were sent in 1922 to Miss Dell Harland or Mrs Agnes Harland (guardian), 36 Strowan Road, Fendalton, Christchurch, to be held in trust for his child, Sylvia Harland. Sylvia Harland had been born to Dell Harland and Eric Joseph Livingstone on 19 October 1916 at Manaia (Taranaki), this being recorded on his personnel file. Sylvia married Harry Duncan Marson in 1937 and died in in 1988 at Christchurch.

A paragraph in the annual report presented at the annual meeting of the High School Old Boys Football Club, held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms on 26 March 1919, stated that since the last annual meeting eight members had been killed in action, E. Livingstone one of them. In referring to this list the chairman remarked that this was the hardest blow that the club had had. At his instance a motion of sympathy with their relatives was carried, members standing. Eric was among those who had fallen since the previous Anzac Day who were remembered at a memorial service held on 25 April 1919 in the Canterbury College Hall, in memory of old boys of Christchurch Boys’ High School. And at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rowing held on 29 September 1919, Eric and his brother Reuel were named in the club’s Roll of Honour. “Student” (Star, 4 June 1919) acknowledged with thanks receipt of the May number of the “Boys’ High School Magazine.” The literary portion included, among other items, the school roll of honour — notes on old boys who had laid down their lives for their country; old boys’ letters to the headmaster; the organisation and administration of the N.Z.E.F.; Anzac Day; 1919. The photographs included some of old boys who lost their lives during the war, including Corporal E. J. Livingstone. The roll of honour contained 786 names, and of that number 142 had made the supreme sacrifice. The memorial library would probably be incorporated in the new school building. It would contain photographs of all the old boys who had served in the war. In addition, a monument would be erected in the grounds. Before proceedings commenced at the annual meeting of Christchurch Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association on 5 June 1919, those present stood as a remark of respect to the memory of E. Livingstone and seven fellow Old Boys, who had lost their lives in the War since the last annual meeting. In 1923, Canterbury College published a list of the names of past and present students of the College who were known to have been serving with His Majesty’s Forces during 1914-18. Listed there was Lieutenant E. J. Livingstone.

Three brothers of Eric Livingstone served in World War One - Alexander Reuel Livingstone who was also killed in action, Thomas McClelland Livingstone who served with the Australian Forces, and Robert Heaton Livingstone. Another brother, Henry Gillies Livingstone who was also born in Timaru, was stationed as adjutant to the C. Y. C. (Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) in 1917. Captain H. G. Livingstone, of the Defence Department, acted as prosecutor in court-martial cases and followed up on those who neglected their cadet parades. In mid-November 1918, he was a sufferer of the prevalent epidemic. Henry had a life-time interest in the Army, displaying prowess as a horseman and in soldierly ability. There were not a lot of children born to Eric’s siblings. A nephew, Claude Wilfred Alfred Kimbell (son of Laura Livingstone), served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War Two and was taken prisoner of war in Germany. Another nephew, Robert Reuel North Livingstone (elder son of Henry Gillies Livingstone), served with the New Zealand Forces in World War Two. Mr Thomas Livingstone, the well-known police officer, who had four sons on active service, two of whom were killed in action, one invalided back to New South Wales, and one invalided home then rejoining the forces, died on 23 November 1920 at his Christchurch residence. He was buried at Timaru with his children who had predeceased him – Percy in 1889 (2 years), Hamilton in 1895 (infant) and David William in 1906 (30 years). Mrs Mary Ann Livingstone who died on 2 November 1923 at her Christchurch residence was buried too at Timaru.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 May 2014]; CWGC [10 May 2014; NZ Defence Force Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5544 0068724) [11 May 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [08 May 2014]; School Admission records (Dunedin & Canterbury branches NZSG) [2024]; Star, 25 May 1911, 22 March 1912, 31 March 1913, 20 May 1916, 17 June 1916, 1 July 1916, 21 August 1917, 20 November 1918, 4 June 1919, Press, 26 May 1911, 24 December 1913, 21 February 1914, 8 April 1914, 9 October 1914, 13 March 1915, 17 June 1915, 6 July 1915, 24 August 1915, 13 April 1917, 21 August 1917, 1 December 1917, 9, 16 & 18 November 1918, 27 March 1919, 26 Apr 1919, 30 September 1919, 12 May 1923, Lyttelton Times, 21 January 1914, 21 January 1915, 7 October 1916, 9 November 1918, 27 March 1919, Dominion, 19 January 1915, NZ Times, 19 January 1915, 18 February 1916, Sun, 21 January 1915, 12 December 1916, 21 August 1917, 11 & 15 November 1918, 6 June 1919, Evening Post, 18 February 1916, 28 September 1917 (Papers Past) [08 & 09 May 2014; 29 & 30 September 2017; 22 March 2022; 30 & 31 July 2025; 10 August 2025]; SCRoll web submission from K Marson, 24 November 2014); Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [25 November 2016]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• LIVINGSTONE Eric Joseph - newspaper clippings (pdf, 110.5 KB updated 21-Nov-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS