Pte
Harold Fromholtz Reese
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 19/05/1884 |
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Place of birth: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Camooweal, Queensland, Australia |
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Profession: Stockman |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3455 |
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Enlistment date: 17/11/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 47th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 33 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXIII Row: C Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harold Fromholtz Reese was born on 19 May 1884 in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of Charles and Eliza Reese. Before the war, he worked as a stockman and lived in Camooweal, Queensland. Harold enlisted in the Australian Army on 17 November 1916 and served with the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry (12th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division).
Harold was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The objective of the 12th Brigade was to advance via the Broodseinde ridge toward Keiberg Spur. In doing so, they flanked the 3th Australian Division, which was advancing north of the Ieper–Roeselare railway line toward Passendale. The brigade’s start lines were located just in front of Nieuwemolen. The 47th Battalion was tasked with capturing the first objectives in the vicinity of Rhine, after which the 48th Battalion would take over.
The attack immediately encountered setbacks. The soldiers were exhausted from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was also hit. Nearly all signallers and runners became casualties, making further communication with the front lines increasingly difficult. The 47th Battalion managed to reach the ridge, but the attack by the 48th Battalion was delayed due to the large distance from the 9th Brigade. Around 3:00 p.m., reports were received of a possible German counterattack, which began an hour later from Assyria Ridge. Although the counterattack was repelled, the troops were ultimately forced to withdraw to a line just beyond the starting positions.
During the actions of 12 October 1917, the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry suffered heavy losses. Among them was the 33-year-old Harold Fromholtz Reese. According to a witness account, he was struck by a shell, losing both lower legs. He had no chance of survival. After the war, his body was recovered near Defy Crossing. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Harold was killed on 12 October 1917 during the First Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The objective of the 12th Brigade was to advance via the Broodseinde ridge toward Keiberg Spur. In doing so, they flanked the 3th Australian Division, which was advancing north of the Ieper–Roeselare railway line toward Passendale. The brigade’s start lines were located just in front of Nieuwemolen. The 47th Battalion was tasked with capturing the first objectives in the vicinity of Rhine, after which the 48th Battalion would take over.
The attack immediately encountered setbacks. The soldiers were exhausted from marching through the mud. The battalion headquarters, located in a bunker on the Broodseinde ridge, was also hit. Nearly all signallers and runners became casualties, making further communication with the front lines increasingly difficult. The 47th Battalion managed to reach the ridge, but the attack by the 48th Battalion was delayed due to the large distance from the 9th Brigade. Around 3:00 p.m., reports were received of a possible German counterattack, which began an hour later from Assyria Ridge. Although the counterattack was repelled, the troops were ultimately forced to withdraw to a line just beyond the starting positions.
During the actions of 12 October 1917, the 47th Battalion Australian Infantry suffered heavy losses. Among them was the 33-year-old Harold Fromholtz Reese. According to a witness account, he was struck by a shell, losing both lower legs. He had no chance of survival. After the war, his body was recovered near Defy Crossing. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 6
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47th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/64/17). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au Sources used |
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Deayton Craig. Battle Scarred: the 47th Battalion in the First World War (Newport Big Sky publishing Ltd, 2011), 156-188. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, REESE H F). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 129-132. Sources used |
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Unit Embarkation nominall rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464392 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=3fe17e0f-d341-4e0f-a874-d0e94a40f4ef |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=251619 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7559451 |