Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Eldred Thomas Reading was the fifth-born son of William and Charlotte Caroline (née Bett) Reading, of London, England. He was born on 12 February 1888 at Ealing, Middlesex, England. William, a stable jobmaster, and Charlotte had married in 1872 at Ealing and had ten children, three of whom died young. Young Eldred was at home with his family at 1 Haven Green, Ealing, Middlesex, in 1891 and again in 1901. While his parents and some siblings were still at their Ealing home in 1911, Eldred was in New Zealand. He had travelled third-class from Plymouth on 3 September 1910 by the “Ruahine” which was due at Wellington on 17 October. There in 1911 at Brinklands Grange, Fairlie, was Eldred Thomas Reading, a ploughman. He was a member of the Fairlie Amateur Swimming Club’s team which raced off scratch and finished second in the 200 Yards Relay Race at the Fairlie Club’s 1912 Boxing Day carnival. He himself also placed second in the 50 Yards Inter-Club. He enjoyed success again at the 1913 Boxing Day carnival – second place in the 25 Yards Club Dash and first in a heat of the 50 Yards Inter-Club. Swimming off scratch at the Timaru carnival in the Century Baths in February 1913, Eldred had finished second in the sixth heat of the 50 Yards Inter-Club Handicap. At the Temuka Swimming Club’s annual carnival in March 1914, when there were large entries for each event, he finished second in the seventh heat of the 50 Yards Inter-Club Handicap. In 1914 Eldred had a stint as a ploughman at Maraekakaho Station in Hawkes’Bay.

E. T. Reading passed the medical examination at Timaru in September 1915 and was sworn in for service at the Front. He stood at 5 feet 8¼ inches, weighed 157 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-38 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes brown and his hair light brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal, and his teeth fair. He was free from diseases and defects, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. He bore four scars on the left side of his neck, the result of abscesses. He was part of South Canterbury’s quota for the Ninth Reinforcements which left South Canterbury on 18 October 1915 for Trentham, where he enlisted. A farm hand at Lambrook, Fairlie, single and Anglican, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs W. Reading, 1 Heven Green, Ealing, London, England. His Will had been deposited with the Public Trustee. He was promoted from Private to Lance Corporal on 22 November 1915. Lance-Corporal E. T. Reading, C Squadron, 9th Reinforcements, was appointed Temporary Corporal at Trentham in January 1916.

Sergeant E. T. Reading embarked with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles of the 9th Reinforcements, leaving Wellington per the “Maunganui” on 8 January 1916 and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 12 February. At Zeitoun he reverted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was appointed Temporary Sergeant on 20 February 1916. After reverting to ranks on joining his unit on 9 March 1916, he was appointed Acting Bombardier on 11 March. Transferred from the Canterbury Mounted Rifles to the New Zealand Field Artillery (13th Battery) on 25 March 1916 at Moascar, he embarked for France on 7 April 1916 at Alexandria. After being appointed Acting Bombardier again on 17 September 1916, he was promoted to Bombardier on 28 October 1916.

Bombardier Eldred Thomas Reading, 7/2133, Artillery, was reported wounded in the head on 1 June 1917. The next day [2 June] he was admitted to No. 10 Field Ambulance. He was able to rejoin his Unit (13th Battery) on 9 June. Having been promoted Temporary Corporal on 25 August 1917, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 1 November 1917, then to the rank of Sergeant (13th Battery) on 8 December 1917. Corporal E. T. Reading was detached to the 4th Army Artillery School in January 1918, rejoining the 13th Battery a month later. He married Violet Emma Martha Hawkins on 23 May 1918 at St Stephens Church, Ealing. Following his marriage, his wife became his next-of-kin – Mrs V. E. M. Reading, Hursley, Castlebar, Ealing, London. Nominated for a Field Artillery Commission, Sergeant E. T. Reading, 7/2133, had been detached to England for training on 18 May 1918, and on 7 June 1918 he was posted to the R.F.A. Officer Cadet School at Topsham Barracks, Exeter. On 27 January 1919, Sergeant E. T. Reading, 72133, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, as approved by the General Officer commanding the N.Z.E.F., and was posted to the New Zealand Field Artillery.

2Lt E. T. Reading, of Fairlie, returned to New Zealand for demobilization per the “Briton” (Draft 268), leaving on 17 June 1919 and due at Wellington on or about 21 July. His intended address was C/o Mrs Watkinson, 7 Preston Street, Timaru. Mr and Mrs Watkinson’s youngest son, Horace Bessant Watkinson, was also born at Ealing, Middlesex, England in 1888 and was at Fairlie, New Zealand with his parents when he enlisted. He was granted a week’s privilege leave after disembarkation from the “Briton”. A social was held in the Fairlie Public Hall on 7 August 1919 to welcome home Lieutenant E. T. Reading and ten comrades. “The patriotic entertainment added one more to its lengthy list of successful socials in honour of the returned soldiers, on Thursday last. A most enjoyable evening was spent by all.” Excellent music was provided, recitations were given and a bountiful supper was provided. “During the evening the soldiers were invited on the stage where they met with a rousing reception.” They were thanked for their services and were wished all good fortune in the future. “They were all men who were highly esteemed in the district and they were proud of them.” Cheers again greeted the soldiers as those present were thanked for the warm welcome extended to them, and for the good wishes expressed. Dancing was kept up till shortly after midnight when both hosts and guests departed well satisfied with their evening’s entertainment.

Eldred Thomas Reading was discharged on 21 August 1919, being Struck off the Strength of the N.Z.E.F and absorbed into the Unattached List with the rank of 2/Lieutenant. He had served for well over three years in Egypt and Western Europe and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. On 4 September 1919 he signalled that he desired to continue his service in the New Zealand Military Forces in the Reserve of Officers, and was recommended. Passengers to New Zealand by the “Paparoa” in March–May 1919 had included Mrs V. E. M. Reading. 2nd Lieut. E. T. Reading retired on 19 August 1921, his name then being published on the Retired List. He was required to report in writing his address each year. He could retain his rank and wear uniform (service dress) on special occasions. By 24 September 1919, Eldred Reading was a farmer at Willowbridge, South Canterbury, which was his address when he applied for Overseas War Gratuity as a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His Post Office Savings-bank Account was held at Waimate. Eldred and Violet lived at Willowbridge until about 1926. Two sons were born to them in New Zealand – Arthur William Reading in 1922 (named for his two grandfathers) and Eldred Montague Reading in 1923.

The Reading family went to England, via Sydney, by the “Balranald”, arriving in London on 31 May 1926 - Eldred T. Reading, 38 years, farm hand, Violet E. Reading, 39 years, housewife, Arthur W. Reading, 4 years, and Eldred M. Reading, 3 years. Their proposed address in the United Kingdom was 1 Haven Green, Ealing. Eldred’s mother who was still living then, died in July 1929. His father had died in April 1911. A memorandum dated 9 November 1928 was sent to 2nd Lieut. E. T. Reading, Willowbridge, South Canterbury, stating that Officers on the Retired List must report in writing, between the 1st and 31st January each year, to General Headquarters, New Zealand Military Forces, Wellington, and give their address. In January 1929 it was returned Unclaimed and as of 18 October 1929, there had been no action.

In 1939 Eldred and Violet were living in Ealing, Middlesex. Eldred was employed as a haulage contractor (heavy work). Eldred Thomas Reading died on 10 March 1965 at Hanwell, Middlesex, aged 77 years. He was predeceased by Violet who died in 1964 at Ealing, she too having been born there just a few months before Eldred. Administration of his Will was granted to his sons – Arthur William Reading, lieutenant colonel H.M. Army, and Eldred Montague Reading, civil servant. Eldred’s younger brother, Edwin Montague Reading, served in World War One with the British Forces. Jesse James Hawkins, an older brother of Violet, served with the Canadian Forces in World War One; while Arthur William Hawkins, the younger brother of Violet, served with the British Territorial Force and in World War One. When Violet’s mother died in October 1938, probate was granted to Violet Emma Martha Reading and two of her sisters.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [13 April 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5550 0096348) [05 May 2017], NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5958 0363184) [05 May 2017]; Dominion, 5 October 1910, 6 January 1916, 14 June 1917, 16 & 24 April 1919, 19 May 1919, 15 July 1919, Timaru Herald, 28 December 1912, 29 December 1913, 13 March 1914, 14 September 1915, 18 October 1915, 5 & 14 August 1919, Lyttelton Times, 8 February 1913, Temuka Leader, 14 March 1914, Evening Post, 5 January 1916, 20 August 1918, 30 April 1919, 14 July 1919, New Zealand Times, 14 June 1917, 24 April 1919, 11 September 1919, Press, 17 August 1918, 16 July 1919, Sun, 15 July 1919 (Papers Past) [14 April 2017; 01 September 2020; 12 & 13 March 2024]; England census returns 1891, 1901 (ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2017]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2017; 12 March 2024]; UK Passenger List (per ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2017]; UK Church of England Marriage register (per ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2017]; UK Probate index (ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2017]; 1939 England Register (ancestry.com.au) [20 June 2018]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• READING Eldred Thomas - newspaper clippings (pdf, 110.5 KB updated 17-Mar-2024)

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