Alan Wallace, Sergeant, NZ Engineers
1 Apr 1891 - 10 May 1915
Service Details:
Service Number: 4/72A Rank: Sergeant Date of Enlistment: 24 Sept 1914 Place of Enlistment: England |
Alan Wallace, born in Ponsonby and raised in Devonport, was a gifted scholar, sportsman, and Rhodes Scholar whose life was closely woven into the early community of the North Shore. Excelling at Auckland Grammar and Auckland University, he earned multiple scholarships before departing for Oxford in 1912, where he continued to shine academically and athletically. When war broke out, he enlisted in London and joined the New Zealand Engineers, reuniting in Egypt with his younger brother Bert, who had enlisted in Auckland. Alan landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and quickly distinguished himself for bravery under fire, earning a mention in dispatches. He was fatally wounded in early May and buried at sea near Imbros, deeply mourned by family and friends in Devonport and Leigh. Bert survived Gallipoli but was killed the following year in France, marking a tragic double loss for the Wallace family and for the Devonport community that had proudly followed the brothers’ achievements.
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CAPT JA WESTPHALL, OBE, RNZN (Rtd)
1 Apr 1938 - 22 Oct 2021
John with his son, Iain Westphall
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Captain John Andrew Westphall, OBE, RNZN (Rtd) had a distinguished 38 years, 2 months career with the RNZN. He joined the Navy in 1954 as an Artificer Apprentice where he then moved through the ranks to Captain in 1987.
A lovely gentleman and proud member of the Devonport RSA. Thank you for your service. (click on link below for service history) 
Extract from NZ Herald Obituary, published 25 Oct 2021:
WESTPHALL, John Andrew (John). OBE, Captain, RNZN (Rtd) K14982. Born April 01, 1938. Passed away peacefully on 22 October, 2021 at Ryman Village Devonport. Dearly loved husband of Sandra, a cherished and respected father and father-in-law of Iain and Lee, Mark and Jane, Grandad of Lucy, Max, Luke, Fraser, Elsie and Hugo. |
