Informationen zu Geburt

Geburtsdatum:
22/06/1885
Geburtsort:
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Allgemeine Informationen

Beruf:
Schreiner

Informationen zum Armeedienst

Land:
New Zealand
Truppe:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Lance Corporal
Dienstnummer:
53755
Einberufung datum:
05/02/1917
Einberufung ort:
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Einheiten:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 2nd Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Informationen zu Tod

Sterbedatum:
05/02/1918
Sterbeort:
Jubilee Croft, Beselare, Belgien
Todesursache:
Im Kampf gefallen
Alter:
32

Begräbnisplatz

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Grabstelle: XIII
Reihe: A
Grab: 16

Auszeichnungen und Orden 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Punkte von Interesse 3

#1 Geburtsort
#2 Einberufung ort
#3 Ort des Todes (ungefähr)

Meine Geschichte

William Baildon was born in Auckland on 22 June 1885, son of William and Isabella Baildon. He had eight siblings.

William was a carpenter working for the Education Department in Dargaville (North Auckland) when he enlisted in Auckland on 5 February 1917, service number 53755. He was originally part of a NZ Brigade training company in the 28th Reinforcement but in April was moved to the 27th Reinforcement. He trained at Trentham and Featherston camps before leaving New Zealand on the troop ship Athenic on 16 July 1917. After a voyage across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal, William arrived at Liverpool on 16 September.

He continued training at Tidworth and Brocton camps in England before he sailed to France on 23 October and was posted to C Company, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 2 November 1917. He therefore missed the hard battles of October 1917 near Passchendaele. He was promoted to lance-corporal on 7 November.

After the Third Battle of Ypres the New Zealand Division held the line in and around Polygon Wood. In early December the Division wanted to improve its positions and tried to take the heights round Polderhoek Chateau.

The Division’s battalions relieved each other in the Polygon Wood sector, the main work being improving defences, repairing trenches and wire. The landscape was water-filled shell holes. The Germans had observation over much of the area so any movement was shelled or machine-gunned.

As with many of the NZ Division, William was involved in laboring tasks when not in the front line. On 20 November he was detached to the 1st Australian Tunneling Company which was building deep shelters for troops, spending three weeks with that unit.

The Rifle Brigade returned to the front line on 14 January 1918, the relief taking place in heavy snow. It was there until the 20th. After a short rest the brigade went into the line again on 1st February, with the 2nd Battalion in the front line. During this early February period there were heavy bombardments by both sides, with the Polygon Butte being a particular target.

It is likely that William Baildon was killed by shellfire near Jubilee Croft on 5 February 1918.

He is now buried in Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot XIII, Row A, Grave 16.

Dateien 1

Quellen 5

"The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own)", Austin W.S., East-Sussex, The Naval & Military Press Ltd., 2007, pg. 263-264.
Verwendete Quellen
Auckland Cenotaph
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C551?n=baildon&ordinal=2&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch
Verwendete Quellen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?lastName=Baildon&serviceNumber=53755
Verwendete Quellen
NZEF-Project
http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/search
Verwendete Quellen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Verwendete Quellen