ASTLEY, Eric Henry

Biography:

Eric attended Avondale School’s standards classes June 1902 to June 1904, a son of John E Astley. He died at Gallipoli from wounds in June 1915.

Enlisted in London, October 1914 with the British Section of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Transferred 28 December 1914 to New Zealand Engineers.

Sapper Eric H. Astley, who was recently reported to have died on June 23 of wounds received while serving with the Field Engineers at Gallipoli, was the elder son of Mr. John E. Astley, of Auckland. Sapper Astley was 21 years of age at the time of his death. He was educated at the Avondale and Mount Albert schools, winning a scholarship and going on to the Grammar School. On leaving school he became an apprentice at the firm's works, at the same time attending the laboratory of the Auckland University College. Last year he proceeded to England for the purpose of further training at the leather industries department of the Leeds University. On the outbreak of war he joined the New Zealand company formed in London by the High Commissioner, and was one of the New Zealanders who took part in the Lord Mayor's Show. The company subsequently proceeded to Egypt, where Sapper Astley was drafted into the engineers. He landed at Gallipoli on April 25, and was engaged at Quinn's Post until the end of May, when he was slightly wounded. After a short rest he was employed at various duties about the beach. It was while thus engaged, on June 23, that Sapper Astley was severely wounded by a shrapnel shell. He died on board a hospital ship, and was buried at sea. (NZ Herald 12 August 1915 p. 9)

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