Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 12th, 1917

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

Mr J. W. Eagles, the gasworks manager, a day or two ago received from his son, the Rev. J. E. Eagles, who is a chaplain to the Forces in Egypt, a copy of the “Egyptian Gazette” an interesting newspaper published in Alexandria and Cairo. It contained a Whitwick item of news, this relating to the calling-up of monks at the Monastery by the military authorities for medical examination.

Coalville Times article - Friday 2nd August, 1918

Wesleyan Chapel

The services at the Wesleyan Chapel on Sunday had a particular interest inasmuch as in the morning, the Rev. J. R. Sharpley, of Ashby, preached his last sermon there before leaving the circuit, and in the evening, the preacher was the Rev. J. E. Eagles (son of Mr J. W. Eagles), the gasworks manager) who is a chaplain to the Forces and is over on leave from Palestine. There were good congregations. The service on Tuesday night was the last to be conducted by the Rev. T. Cottam, of Coalville, before leaving for another circuit.

Wedding

The wedding took place at Melton Mowbray Wesleyan Chapel, on Thursday last week of Miss Frances Ellen Thurman, of Melton, and the Rev. James Ed. Eagles, of Whitwick, who is over on leave from Palestine, where he has been acting as chaplain to the Forces. The Rev. John Gill, another Army chaplain, from Aldershot, performed the ceremony in the presence of a good number of friends. The bride was accompanied by her sister, Miss Mary Thurman, as bridesmaid, and Mr A. B. Eagles, (brother of the bridegroom) acted as best man. The Rev. J. E. Eagles is returning to Palestine on August 10th.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 21st, 1919

WHITWICK MINISTER WINS M.C.

The Rev. J. E. Eagles, chaplain to the Forces in Egypt, has been awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the field. He is the eldest son of Mr J. W. Eagles, manager of the Coalville Urban Council’s gasworks at Whitwick, and has served in Egypt for three years. The Rev. J. E. Eagles is a Wesleyan minister.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 7th, 1919

DO YOU KNOW THAT

The Rev. J. E. Eagles, M.C., honoured by a public presentation at Whitwick on Monday night, is one of Mr T. Frith’s old boys of the Coalville Belvoir Road School?

WHITWICK HEROES HONOURED

THREE MORE PESENTATIONS

An interesting event at the Whitwick Picture House on Monday night was presentations to three more Whitwick men who have brought honour to their old town as well as to themselves by distinguishing themselves in the war. It brought the number of Whitwick men up to ten, and the gallant services of them all have been fittingly recognised by the patriotic residents of their native place.

The Vicar (the Rev. T. W. Walters) presided, and was supported by the Rev. M. J. O’Reilly, Messrs. G. F. Burton, F. Blow, J. W. Eagles, J. H. Gilberd, C. W. Pegg and J. H. Robinson (members of the committee), and the Whitwick and Thringstone Boy Scouts, who made a presentation on their own account, and with their drums and bugles figured prominently in the proceedings.

The Vicar said it was a pleasure to them to honour these men, and they were proud of the fact that ten of the lads from Whitwick had won medals.

Another presentation was to the Rev. J. E. Eagles, Wesleyan chaplain to the 75th Division, who had been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action in Palestine. The gift consisted of two handsome volumes of Dr. Hastings’ “Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels” and in handing these to Mr J. W. Eagles, the chaplain’s father, the Vicar said they were sorry that the Rev. J. E. Eagles was not present to receive them, but he was still abroad, and not likely to be home again till after Christmas. Though chaplains did not actually fight, when there was a big battle on they went out amidst shot and shell, facing death like soldiers in the performance of their duties. The official record stated that the Rev. J. E. Eagles was awarded the Military Cross for displaying conspicuous gallantry whilst in action on September 19th, 1918. Not only had the Rev. J. E. Eagles performed his duties splendidly in the war, but the fact that he had chosen those two magnificent books was evidence of his intention to carry on the spiritual war when he came home. It gave him (the Vicar) very great pleasure indeed to hand the gift to Mr Eagles in recognition of the bravery of his son, assuring him that Whitwick people were proud of him(applause).

Mr Eagles said he was very sorry that his lad could not be there to receive the splendid gift himself, but on his behalf he thanked them very much. He was sure that had his son been there, he would simply say that he had only done his duty as so many other Whitwick lads had done (cheers).

After each presentation the Scouts gave a general salute with the bugles and drums, the others standing at attention. Mr G. F. Burton proposed and Mr J. H. Gilberd seconded, a vote of thanks to Mrs Kelly for the use of the theatre on those occasions. Mr Gilberd said Mrs Kelly had been left alone during the war, and she had carried on splendidly. The Whitwick people had supported her well and he hoped they would continue to do so (cheers). The Vicar added that as far as they knew this would be the last presentation, and he would like to say that whenever the collectors had gone for contributions towards the fund, they had always been received kindly. He thought that word was due to the public of Whitwick (cheers). The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 24/12/2017