Informationen zu Geburt

Geburtsdatum:
29/11/1892
Geburtsort:
Ireland, Irland, Vereinigtes Königreich

Allgemeine Informationen

Beruf:
Landwirt / Bauman / Ökonom

Informationen zum Armeedienst

Land:
New Zealand
Truppe:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Rifleman
Dienstnummer:
55633
Einberufung datum:
09/05/1917
Einberufung ort:
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand
Einheiten:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Informationen zu Tod

Sterbedatum:
07/12/1917
Sterbeort:
Polderhoek, Belgien
Todesursache:
Im Kampf gefallen
Alter:
25

Begräbnisplatz

Polygon Wood Cemetery
Grabstelle: Unbekannt
Reihe: F
Grab: 10

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

John Smyth served in the 1st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, New Zealand Division. He was the son of John and Lizzie Robinson, originating from Ireland.

The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood area, after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shell holes. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.

The Division relieved the 21st Division from 13th November, when the 3rd (NZ Rifle Brigade) and 4th NZ Infantry Brigades took over the front line. On 1st December the NZ Rifle Brigade relieved the 4th Infantry Brigade in the Becelaere Sector, with the 1st Battalion ( John’s unit) relieving the 3rd Otago Battalion. The brigade headquarters was at the Polygon Butte.

On 3 December part of 2nd Brigade attacked Polderhoek Chateau, with limited success and heavy casualties. The Rifle Brigade history does not offer much detail on this period so it is difficult to say how John, aged 24, died on 7 December 1917. There were heavy snow storms during the time.

His body was recovered and he, along with others from the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, is buried at Polygon Wood Cemetery. He is in Row F, Grave 10.

Dateien 2

Quellen 6

"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, page 255 - 258
Verwendete Quellen
Auckland Cenotaph
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C14750?n=Smyth%2055633&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch
Verwendete Quellen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480072/smyth,-john/
Verwendete Quellen
NZEF Project
https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=239514
Verwendete Quellen
Service Records
http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18435627
Verwendete Quellen
The long Long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Verwendete Quellen