Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Reginald Marcus Sterndale was the third and youngest son of Charles Holland Thuillier and Harriet Jane (née Begg) Sterndale, the first-born son dying in infancy. Harriet from Scotland came to New Zealand as a child with her parents in the 1850s, the family settling at Romahapa, Southland. Her father died at Romahapa in November 1899. In time she joined her brothers in India, where she met Indian-born Charles. They married in 1885 at Bengal, India, and had two children born there – Charles who died in infancy and Cecil Agnes who came to New Zealand with her parents. Charles and Harriet came to New Zealand in 1888-1889, settling firstly at Puerua in South Otago, where Charles farmed. There two sons weer born – Alexander Craufuird and Reginald Marcus. In 1896 the family moved to Timaru, where Alec and their sister Cecil attended Timatu Main and Waimataitai schools, while Reginald was educated at Waimataitai. A stillborn child was born in December 1897. In Timaru Charles Sterndale engaged in his art work, and was a founder of the local Art Society. Mr and Mrs Sterndale left Timaru in 1923 to live in London. Charles died at Golders Green, Middlesex, in 1925, Harriet in 1947, and their daughter Cecil in 1948. Alexander and Reginald had already gone to England, and served with the British Forces in World War I.

In December 1899 the three Sterndale children each contributed 5 shillings to the Patriotic Fund. “The Little New Zealanders in Khaki” were a well known company at the Easter camp at Levels. On Sunday, the party, which included A. and R. Sterndale, paraded, and in a march round collected the handsome sum of £7 in aid of the New Zealand Sick and Wounded Fund. “The little fellows looked exceedingly well in their uniforms, and took great interest and pleasure in their parade.” Mrs Sterndale contributed towards the Field Ambulance in 1915.

Reg had gone to England to England when he was quite young. He had servedin the New Zealand Territorial ForceIn late 1914, his father received word that he had obtained his commission in the 7th Service Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, and that “they were putting in very strenuous drill”. Reg said that he was eagerly looking forward to meeting his Timaru friends in the first Expeditionary Force. In early 1915 he received his Lieutenancy in the 7th Loyal North Lancashires, the regiment at that time training on Salisbury Plains. He went to France on 23 September 1915, and soon after was appointed First-Lieutenant in the First Battalaion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, British Regulars. By November he had been sent in charge of the Scottish Rifles, about three miles behind the firing line. By early 1916 he was acting as officer commanding First Battalion, Loyal North Lancashires, in the first line of trenches in France. He wrote to his father that they were within 75 yards of the German lines, but that there was practically no infantry fighting, operations being confined to the artillery. “The weather . . . was extremely cold, but with the aid of a bear-skin coat, rubber boots, and acoke brazier, they managed to keep warm.” Lieutenant Sterndale offered the opinion that “Fritz is getting very groggy.”

Only days later Mr Sterndale received a cable saying that his son, Lieut. R. M. Sterndale, had been admitted to the second Red Cross Hospital at Rouen on 28 January (1916), suffering from multiple bomb wounds, the result of an accident. He was struck by a high explosive grenade. He had not long before received a course of instruction in bomb manufacture and use. He was dangerously ill as a result of his wounds. On leaving hospital, Reginald Sterndale was granted four months furlough from his regiment, returning to New Zealand by the “Niagara” and arriving in Timaru in September 1916 to spend a month with his family. The mayor welcomed him back and expressed the hope that he would soon regain his former good health.

Reginald Sterndale returned to England late in 1917 to go before a medical board, with the intention of returning to active service. He was, however, retired. He took up an appointment in the Bank of Bengal, Calcutta, and left for India on 18 January 1917.

Reginald Marcus Sterndale married Margaret Evelyn Dunn on 28 June 1922 at St Thomas Church, St Marylebone, London. They had one son.

Sources

NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [07 January 2020]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [09 January 2020]; Clutha Leader, 10 December 1897, Timaru Herald, 29 November 1899, 21 November 1914, 25 February 1915, 25 November 1915, 20 January 1916, 2 & 3 February 1916, 21 & 23 September 1916, 9 January 1917, South Canterbury Times, 28 December 1899, 18 April 1900, Otago Daily Times, 16 September 1916, 8 January 1948, Auckland Star, 18 September 1916, Otago Witness, 20 September 1916 (Papers Past) [09 January 2020]

External Links

Related Documents

• STERNDALE Reginald Marcus - newspaper clippings (pdf, 115.9 KB updated 15-Jan-2020)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.