Tegetmeier, A

Private Alan Tegetmeier

Alan was born on October 29^th 1891, the third and youngest child, of a business director, Charles Tegetmeier, who had previously been General Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, and his wife, Mary. He was at first at the Prep before coming to the College at the start of 1905. In 1907 he earned a senior scholarship at the College and that year was also a member of the 3^rd XV, before leaving in the summer of 1908 to take up a place at London University. He was a keen swimmer and went on to be part of the group who won the Darnell Cup, awarded to the most impressive team at the Royal Life-Saving Society’s annual swimming championships, in 1913. That year he also took up employment as a member of the British Electrical Federation.

In October 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war, Alan enlisted in the Artists Rifles. He was offered a commission, but refused it, choosing to remain in the ranks, and as a result was transferred to the Kensingtons. With his new unit he saw service through much of the following two years, at first in France and later on the Salonica Front in Greece. In early 1917 they were transferred to Palestine, where they spent much of the year engaged in heavy fighting during the advance upon Jerusalem. On December 8^th, one day before Jerusalem would finally be captured, Alan was shot by a sniper at Ain Karem, several miles from the city, dying of his injuries shortly afterwards.