Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Albert Lincoln Applegarth was born on 31 January 1867 in London, England, the third son of Robert Applegarth and his first wife, Mary née Longmore. In 1871 Albert, his oldest brother Sampson and younger sister Lillian were at home in Lambeth with their widowed father who was a company secretary. Their mother had died in 1870. In 1881 young Albert was a scholar at Swindon, Wiltshire, with his brother Sampson and their grandmother. His father Robert had remarried in 1871. Albert Lincoln Applegarth attended Lambeth School before being admitted to Swindon Church of England School on 6 April 1880. He left school on 7 September 1881, probably to go out to work. In 1882 he was an apprentice with the Great Western Railway. Albert Applegarth was a third cabin passenger on the “Pleaiades” which left Gravesend for Otago, New Zealand, on 24 June 1884. He was an engineer in Dunedin in 1893.

Albert Lincoln Applegarth married Mary Gertrude Briasco (known as Gertrude) at her mother’s Dunedin residence on 25 April 1893. They were to have five children – Robert born in 1894 at Dunedin, Lilian Gertrude Briasco born at Timaru and dying there on 23 August 1896 at 11 weeks, Ivy Gertrude born in 1897 at Timaru, Winifred Susie born in 1900 at Dunedin and Angelo Francis born in 1902 at Dunedin. By 1894 Albert and Mary were living in Timaru, Albert an umbrella manufacturer. Mary went back to Dunedin for the birth of her first child. Before 1895, Albert had given a trophy for firing at Timaru by C Battery of the New Zealand Artillery. They spent a few years in Dunedin around the turn of the century before returning to Timaru.

He was active in the community life of Dunedin and then Timaru. In 1903 he applied to patent his smoke-preventing and fuel-economising appliances, and in early 1904 had a contract with the Dunedin City Council. Later in 1904 he was in Timaru, the South Canterbury agent for a dyer and French cleaner and into his umbrella and shades business. He was appointed to the post of secretary of the Timaru Marine Band in October 1906. He was a member of the Timaru Lodge, presiding as Arch Druid in 1909. He served on a jury in 1908. He not only manufactured umbrellas, he also cleaned and renovated sunshades. It was February 1909 when he moved his business into the Arcade. “Mr A. L. Applegarth, the well-known racquet expert, has received his new season’s supply of gut and racquet repairing materials, and advises all tennis players to have their racquets overhauled before starting play for the season. He also undertakes to repair golf and polo clubs, cricket bats, croquet mallets, etc.” [August 1909.] As Christmas 1909 neared “Mr Applegarth of umbrella fame invites his numerous patrons to inspect his show window in the Arcade where he has a fine show of new and very handsome umbrellas for both men and women. The coverings are in silk, cotton, and glorias, while the handles are very prettily got up with gold and silver mounts, and some of them have unique ornamentation at the end, in the form of heads of birds, heads of animals, imitation fruit, horns, etc. They all look very nice, and as articles for presentation purposes they would be hard to beat. Mr Applegarth has another attraction in his shop, in the form of a very pretty bracket of unique design, which he is giving away to his customers.”

Having taken a trip Home, Mr A. L. Applegarth left London, England, by the “Ruapehu” on 6 July 1911, to return to New Zealand. Shortly after his return, at a meeting of the Church of England Men’s Society in St Mary’s vestry, he gave an interesting resume of his experiences, including the reception given by the Archbishop of York to members of the C.E.M.S., at which twenty-two out of seventy present were New Zealanders. While at Home he had visited most of the English and Continental silk factories and brought out some of the latest designs in sunshade materials. In England he also personally selected some very choice umbrella sticks, for presentation purposes, with gold and silver mounted horns, tortoise, pearl, and sold silver handles. They could be made up at the shortest notice, and would make very useful and elegant Christmas presents. In April 1913, he was asked to stand for a seat on the Timaru Borough Council. His reply is not known.

And so it was, that Albert Lincoln Applegarth was in Timaru when war broke out. “Recruiting in South Canterbury for the main Expeditionary Force, and for the relieving force for Samoa has been carried on very satisfactorily, and the district has done its duty very well in the way of supplying men to uphold the Empire in its time of trouble and stress. On Tuesday a detachment of 40 men left Timaru for Trentham to join the force for Samoa, while eight left to join the reinforcements for the Expeditionary Force. Another batch of 10 men will leave Timaru to-morrow for Trentham to join as volunteers for the reinforcements to the main expeditionary Force. The men are still offering in goodly numbers.” [Timaru Herald. 14 January 1915.] Among those who left for Trentham Camp on Tuesday, 12 January, was A. L. Applegarth with the 2nd S.C. Regiment.

He was close to forty-eight years of age when he enlisted on 20 January 1915 at Trentham, willing to serve for the full term of the war. He stood at 5 feet 5½ inches, weighed 112 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 30-33½ inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes hazel and his hair brown. His sight was measured at 2-/24 in both eyes; his hearing and colour vision were good, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health. He was passed subject to having his teeth put in proper condition and was recommended for Samoa. He belonged to the Timaru Defence Rifle Club and had served with the North Dunedin Rifles until he left the district. His given address was Arcade, Timaru. A draper, married with four children and of Church of England affiliation, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs A. L. Applegarth, Arcade, Timaru.

Private A. L. Applegarth embarked with the Samoan Relief Force (Infantry), departing from Auckland for Apia, Western Samoa, on 27 March 1915 per the “Talune”. Albert was serving in Samoa when his son Robert was wounded at the Dardanelles. After promotion to Lance Corporal in May 1915, he was promoted to Corporal on 4 November 1915 while employed as Orderly to the Commander in Chief. Albert wrote from Samoa on 12 March 1916, commenting on the marked difference between Timaru’s meagre rainfall and Samoa’s excessive rainfall. “I think Timaru could have done with a little of our rain. I can assure you we could well spare it.” Corporal Albert Lincoln, 19/7, Samoan Relief Force, a draper of Arcadia, Timaru, returned from Samoa by the “Talune” for two months leave, arriving at Auckland on 19 June 1916. At the Timaru Borough Council meeting in mid-August 1916, the mayor noted that Corporal Applegarth, of the Samoan Force, had presented some curios for the municipal museum, and these would be properly displayed as soon as the museum was fitted up.

Corporal A. L. Applegarth embarked for Samoa for a second time, with the 5th Samoan Relief Force, departing from Auckland for Apia on 21 August 1916 per the “Talune”. Returning to duty on 28 August 1916, he reverted to his former rank of Lance Corporal. Ivy Gertrude Applegarth, the elder surviving daughter of Albert and Gertrude, married in February 1917 at St Mary’s Church, Timaru. In the absence of her father on active service, she was given away by her mother. On 1 March 1917 A. L. Applegarth reverted to the rank of Private at his own request. He was admitted to hospital in Samoa on 30 August 1917, suffering from pleurisy. Progressing favourably, he was discharged on 6 September 1917. But come 19 September and he was again admitted to hospital – muscular rheumatism. Although his progress was again favourable, it was not until 24 October that he was discharged. Found medically unfit for service in Samoa on 8 November 1917, Private Applegarth was struck off the Strength of the Garrison and embarked for New Zealand per the “Talune” on 20 November 1917, arriving on 5 December 1917. He had given over two years’ service in Samoa. Albert Lincoln Applegarth was discharged on 13 March 1918, on account of illness contracted on active service. He suffered 50% permanent disability – chronic rheumatism. He was awarded the British War Medal. He intended to reside at Leith Valley, Dunedin. In February 1919, the transfer of A. L. Applegarth from Timaru to the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association was approved.

Back in Dunedin in the 1920s, Albert got into lawn bowling with the Leith Valley Club and was a regular in competition play for many years. At the Elderly Bowlers’ Day in February 1936, he played in a four whose ages totalled 301 years. Trooper A. L. Applegarth was one of the oldest members at a meeting of the Legion of Frontiersmen (Dunedin City) held in September 1934. A Dunedin syndicate named the “Four L’s” held the winning ticket, worth £10,000 in the Australian Tattersall’s in October 1935. One of the four Ls was Mr A. L. (Lincoln) Applegarth, who had first suggested buying the ticket, jokingly. It turned out, however, that it was Albert’s son for whom he had taken a share in the ticket. The younger son of Albert and Gertrude, Francis Angelo Applegarth, married in January 1937 at Dunedin. In 1943, Albert and Gertrude celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

Albert Lincoln Applegarth died on 20 October 1946 at Dunedin Public Hospital, aged 79 years. He was a retired engineer from 35 Cole Street. He was cremated at Andersons Bay, his ashes interred with his infant daughter Lilian at Timaru. Mary Gertrude Applegarth died on 22 November 1955 at Company Bay Home, Dunedin, where she resided. She, too, was cremated, her ashes interred with her mother at Andersons Bay Cemetery, as she directed in her Will. She made bequests to her grandson, Robert John Applegarth, and to her two daughters (Ivy Gertrude Knowles and Winifred Susie Clark), her surviving son (Angelo Francis Applegarth) and her sister. Robert Applegarth, the elder son of Albert and Gertrude, also served in World War One, as did his nephew, Percie Raymond Applegarth. Robert George Applegarth, the second brother of Albert, lived and worked with the Civil Service for some years in New Zealand, including a brief spell at Timaru in 1896. He had been in Dunedin in the 1880s and early 1890s when Albert was there. He later went to Christchurch, then on to Wellington and finally to Auckland. Robert George was engaged with the Land and Survey Department in Auckland in April 1916, when he left for London on 25 April by the “Ionic”. His intention was to offer his services to the War Department, although he was by then in his mid-50s. Like Albert and his nephew Robert, Robert George was musical and, connecting with his community, he was much esteemed and the recipient of some fine gifts. He had seen service in earlier conflicts. On arrival in London, he offered his services to the War Office. His offer was accepted, and he left for France in late September 1916. “Mr Applegarth, whose white hair belies the vigour of his appearance, is another instance of the older men taking up active service.” He was set to work in the hospitals at the front where, among other duties he would be employed as an interpreter. Having a knowledge of several languages and some acquaintance with medical and surgical science, he specially looked after the wounded on the battlefield. He was also an assistant in X-ray work at a French Red Cross Hospital. In February 1917, R. G. Applegarth enjoyed “Christmas” leave in London from the Hospital Militaire, Seine et Oise, France. He was again on leave in England in October 1917. Unfortunately, he had developed X-ray dermatitis, but he hoped to continue his work. In December 1917, Mr R. G. Applegarth had the pleasure of presenting a flag from the Auckland Boy Scouts to the Scouts of France, as a mark of the union between them. Appointed to a captain’s commission in the American Red Cross, he was stationed in Paris in July 1918. Taken ill later in the year, he was confined to hospital for nearly two months. He spent Christmas 1919 in England, then returned to France, still with the American Red Cross. He was likely to be demobilised in mid-1920.

Robert Applegarth, the father of Robert George and Albert Lincoln, died in July 1924 at his home in England at the age of 90. He had been very active in the Trade Union movement. In his eighties he had done war work, though not in the firing line. It was reported that, besides his two sons who both served in the war at an advanced age, he had four grandsons in the Army or Navy. Two of those grandsons served with the New Zealand Forces – Percie Raymond, the son of Sampson Day Applegarth and Robert, the son of Albert Lincoln Applegarth. Frederic Arthur Applegarth Hudson, the son of Mary Louisa Applegarth, served with the Machine Gun Company of the UK Forces. Jack Alexander Ingle, the son of Lillian Sarah Applegarth, was killed in action on 16 July 1918 with a submarine off the coast of Ireland. Robert George Applegarth – brother of A. L. Applegarth, Leith Valley, Dunedin, and late of the New Zealand Civil Service - died on 4 February 1926 at Paris, France, aged 64 years.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 April 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5520 0009008) [07 May 2017]; Otago Daily Times, 13 August 1884, 16 May 1893, 7 April 1894, 2 March 1917, 5 October 1917, 16 February 1918, 3 April 1926, 20 September 1934, 17 January 1935, 15 November 1935, 16 January 1936, 17 February 1936, 2 February 1937, 24 April 1943, 21 October 1946, Timaru Herald, 15 March 1895, 24 August 1896, 16 March 1904, 17 November 1904, 27 October 1906, 12 September 1908, 11 January 1909, 13 February 1909, 28 August 1909, 9 & 24 December 1909, 16 September 1911, 20 October 1911, 19 December 1911, 22 April 1913, 14 January 1915, 17 May 1915, 31 March 1916, 20 June 1916, 15 August 1916, 10 February 1917, Evening Post, 5 December 1903, 15 June 1916, 1 November 1917, 15 July 1924, New Zealand Times, 26 August 1911, 15 June 1916, 18 February 1920, 6 April 1926, Auckland Star, 5 & 18 April 1916, 1 May 1916, 18 September 1916, 8 & 28 February 1917, 21 April 1917, 26 February 1917, 19 August 1924, Dominion, 15 June 1916, 7 December 1918, New Zealand Herald, 15 June 1916, 19 March 1917, 15 March 1920, Hawke’s Bay Tribune, 1 March 1917, Press, 2 March 1917, 10 July 1918, 2 November 1918, Otago Witness, 7 November 1917, Evening Star, 26 February 1919, 24 April 1943, 21 October 1946 (Papers Past) [05 November 2013; 20 March 2017; 20 April 2018; 07 & 15 January 2019; 03 November 2022; 12, 13 & 16 September 2023]; Andersons Bay Crematorium records (Dunedin City Council) [19 February 2017]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [19 February 2017]; 1871 & 1881 England census returns (ancestry.com.au) [13 September 2023; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [19 February 2017; 13 September 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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