He was born in South Shields 3rd April 1883, his brother was called Thomas Mearns, who worked for the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company, in 1920 his residence address was stated as 37 Market Street, South Shields. Enoch's parents were deceased.

Enoch Alty's height was 5 feet 9 and a half inches, and he weighed 130lb. Blue eyes with brown hair, and he stated his religion as Anglican. His age at enlistment was 31 years and 9 months.

He was educated at Westoe Secondary School, and became an Accountant. He also had a sister called Sarah Hutchinson Mears, (born about 1874) who resided at 41 Houghton Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham. She was aged 46 in 1920.

Not sure when he emigrated to New Zealand but he was employed by the Union Bank at the Fielding branch in New Zealand as an accountant, previous to this he was an accountant with the Union Bank of Australia working then at the Pahiatua branch.

Enlisted 4th January 1915 at Fielding. He was then appointed an Orderly Room clerk from the 20th February 1915, before finally being promoted to the Orderly Room sergeant 1st May 1915.

He was sent to the Dardanelles 17th April 1915. On the HMNZ T No 21.

His unit was in the 4th Wave of reinforcements, 'B' Company.

Promoted to Sergeant 9th June 1915, he was killed in action on the 8th August 1915, (originally quoted the 7th but confirmed as the 8th), whilst in the 11th Battalion. Known as the Battle for Chunuk Bair 8th to the 10th August.

"For the best part of an hour the Wellington Battalion was unmolested in its digging operation, but owing to the hard and stony nature of the soil, and the fact that the majority of the men had only entrenching tools, progress was very slow, and the trenches were not more than 2 feet deep when the Turkish counter-attack started. Preceded by showers of bombs, the Turks worked their way up until they were able to fire into the gun-pits where our advanced covering parties had been placed. The pits soon became untenable and the survivors of the covering parties returned to their companies in the new front line. By now all digging had ceased and the front line companies, taking what cover their shallow trench line afforded , were engaged in a deadly musketry duel with the Turks, who were crowding up from the valley to recapture the hill. Enfilade machine gun fire from the old ANZAC position made matters most unpleasant and soon the shallow front line trenches were filled with the killed and wounded."

Quote from : Major William Cuningham, Wellington Battalion, New Zealand Brigade.

In his will which he made 14th August 1914, he appointed William O'Malley then Bank Manager of the Pahiatue branch sole Executor of his will. His bequeath was : - "I Give, Devise and Bequeath unto my sister Sarah Hutchinson Mearns spinster of 11 Meldon Terrace, South Shields in the County of Durham England, all my property."

There was a letter written dated (1st July 1920) by Sarah H. Mearns to the Officer in Charge (War expenses) at Whitmore Street, Wellington, New Zealand asking details about a pension or gratuity from her brother's Military service. In which she states;- "In reply to yours of the 14th April, beg to inform you that both parents of the above [E. A. Mearns] mentioned soldier are dead, and as I am the only person now living who was dependent on him. I considered I was the proper person to supply for the Gratuity which I understand was due to him. I am enclosing a copy of his will, the original of which is in the possession of the Public Trustee at Wellington, N.Z. by which you will see I was the sole legate."

She goes on to state "With reference to the paragraph which you quote from the 'Expeditionary Forces Amendment Act' am I to understand that because I have not been in receipt of a pension the gratuity bonus cannot be paid to me. If this is so, I would be much obliged if you could give me some information about a pension as I was partly dependent on my brother, and therefore should have been entitled to some pension or compensation. Shortly after my brother was killed, I wrote to the High Commissioner for New Zealand, asking him for information as to whether I was entitled to a pension or compensation for loss of income of which I was deprived thro' my brothers death. In reply to my letter the High Commissioner referred me to the Minister for Defence, Wellington, for information who in his turn referred me to the High Commissioner. As I had been fortuitous enough to obtain work in an office at that time, and preferred working for myself to asking for a pension. I allowed the matter to remain in abeyance, as it seemed to me a waste of time writing to one official only to be referred to another. Now that the men are back again. I had to give up my work last October, and now being forty six years of age, work is not easily obtained, and not being in very good health. I am realising that I should have had the matter settled up then."

"It seems to me that my brother made a mistake when he decided to pay the allowance which he had been making me since my Mother's death out of that portion of his salary which the bank were allowing him while on active service, instead of drawing an allowance from the Government, as other men did who had relatives dependent on them."

"For ten years before her death my Mother who was partly dependent on my brother was an invalid, and as I was obliged to stay at home to act as housekeeper and nurse, the allowance he had been making my Mother was transferred to me at her death. Had the war not taken place it was my brother's intention to take me out to New Zealand if I cared to go, where I would have had a good home with him."

"Mr. W. O'Malley Manager of the Greymouth branch of the Union Bank of Australia, who was manager of the Pahiatua branch when my brother was accountant there, and who was looking after my brother's affairs while he was away at the war, could corroborate my statement as to my brother making me an allowance, as Mr O'Malley sent the last draft which I received before my brother's death, (a sum of £40) and had instructions to forward more if my brother was still at the war at the end of a certain period.

I can answer any questions or give particulars required.

Hoping you will grant me the favour of a reply."

The plaque and Scroll were sent to his brother Thomas around the 24th March 1922. The Medals were despatched and received by Sarah his sister included the 1914-15 Star.

Research : James Pasby

Sourch: New Zealand WW1 Service Records

Above quote is from Gallipoli, Peter Hart. Profile books. 2011. ISBN Nu 978 1 84668 159 2. page 320

He is remembered at Harton H104.03

South Shields Grammar School
View of Chunuk Bai today
New Zealand WW1 Service records
The CWGC entry for Private Mearns