Captain Colin Rucker EDDISON
238th Company, Royal Army Service Corps (Motor Transport)

Date of birth: 5th December 1889
Date of death: 23rd June 1957

Died aged 67
Unknown
Colin Rucker Eddison was born at Adel, Leeds in Yorkshire on the 5th December 1889 the son of Octavius Eddison, a solicitor, and Helena Louisa (nee Rucker) Eddison of 33 Chester Terrace, London SW and of Adel in Yorkshire.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1903 where he was appointed as Head of School and was a member of the Choir. He was a member of the Football XI in 1902, of the Cricket XI in 1903 and was Head of School in 1903. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1902 football season: - "(Left half) - Despite his slender physique a very capable half - has come on wonderfully and would be even more valuable, if he would learn to "head"."

Of his 1903 cricket season they wrote: - "A fair slow left hand bowler. An uncertain element in the field, but has made some fine catches."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....goes to Bradfield College. He has been Head of the School, in both Elevens, a good musician, and a great help in the choir and on the stage."

He went on to Bradfield College from September 1903 to April 1908 where he was appointed as a Prefect in 1906. He attempted to win a scholarship to New College Oxford in 1908 but was unsuccessful but went to University College Oxford the same year, where he was elected as President of the Oxford University Dramatic Society in 1911. In 1913 he passed the Home, India and Colonial Civil Service examinations; he spoke fluent French.

Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at 10, Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn as Private 1414 in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on the 29th of September 1914. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet eleven and a half inches tall.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on the 11th of November 1914. On the 11th of February 1915 he was posted to 238th (HT) Company, 37th Reserve Park at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 12th of May 1915.

He embarked at Devonport on the 9th of August 1916 and landed in Salonika on the 20th of August, joining the 37th Reserve Park in the field on the 22nd of August. He was promoted to Captain on the 27th of February 1917. On the 18th of August 1917 he was admitted to 48 General Hospital and discharged back to his unit on the 5th of September. On the 8th of March 1918 he moved to the 238th Company Rest Camp and was admitted to 60 General Hospital on the 2nd of September 1918. On the 6th of September he was transferred to 67 General Hospital suffering from dacryocystitis and rejoined his unit on the 21st of September. On the 17th of October 1918 he left his unit for leave to the UK and embarked at Salonika on the 20th of October. On the 4th of November 1918 he was seconded to the Board of Trade and he was demobilized at Crystal Palace on the 6th of May 1919.

On leaving the army he worked for a time for a Government Department and later went to work for the Underground Electric Railways of London. In his final year at Oxford he began to take an interest in Christian Science and in June 1923 he resigned his position to devote himself to it.

By 1938 he was a member of the Board of Lectureship of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston in the USA. While living in the United States he lived at 107 Falmouth Street, Boston when he was registered for the draft by the US Army on the 29th of November 1943. At a medical examination by No. 17 Draft Board it was recorded that he was five feet eleven and a half inches tall and that he weighed 200lbs. It was also noted that he had blue eyes, thinning brown hair and that he had a light, ruddy complexion. He lived later at 51, Eaton Terrace, London SW and was a member of the New University Club; his elder brother Eric was a noted author.

He died suddenly at 147 Chatsworth Court, London W8.

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