Rfn
Cecil Fredrick Putt
Information about birth
|
Date of birth: 10/10/1888 |
|
Place of birth: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand |
General information
|
Last known residence: New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand |
|
Profession: Clerk |
|
Religion: Church of England |
Army information
|
Country: New Zealand |
|
Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
|
Rank: Rifleman |
|
Service number: 56841 |
|
Enlistment date: 18/04/1917 |
|
Enlistment place: New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand |
|
Units: — New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
|
Date of death: 07/01/1918 |
|
Place of death: Noordemdhoek, Belgium |
|
Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
|
Age: 29 |
Cemetery
|
Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: Special Memorial Row: B Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
|
British War Medal Medal |
|
Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place |
My story
PUTT Cecil Fredrick
Rifleman Cecil Fredrick Putt was already 28 years of age when he enlisted the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4st Battalion on 18th April 1917 in New Plymouth where he lived and worked.
The former clerk was married with Hilda Putt (nee Oliver) and became father of a son, Cecil Winston on 14th November 1917. When sick he was hospitalized in Rouen and returned to his unit on 1st January 1918.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
On 2nd January 1918 the New Zealand Rifle Brigade went back to the front. The line was now divided into three battalion sub-sectors. The 4th Battalion replaced 3rd Auckland in Noord, which enveloped the remains of the hamlet of Noordemdhoek.
The 4th Battalion Headquarter’ “pill-box” was situated at the cross roads in J.5 central (Noordemdhoek), a spot well known in the Brigade as receiving much “dirty work” from the German artillery.
The Germans attempted to raid the point of the salient at Joiner’s Avenue in the 4th Battalion line but after a sharp fight the raiders were driven off.
Units in the forward positions worked hard to bring about some improvement in the defensive lines, and, in spite of adverse conditions, made considerable progress. The special task of the battalion for the time being in support was to assist in digging and wiring a new reserve trench, and to open up emergency overland routes to the front in preparation for meeting any possible German attack. During this tour the weather alternated between frost and snow on the one hand, and mist and drizzle on the other. German air-craft were active. Shelling continued with varying intensity upon the trenches and tracks, and carrying parties moving over the exposed routes suffered severely.
It was under these circumstances that Rifleman Cecil Fredrick Putt, 29 years old, was wounded in action. He was probably brought to the dressing post near the Butte at Polygon Wood, where he died the 7th January 1918. Now he is buried in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Special Memorial B grave 1.
Rifleman Cecil Fredrick Putt was already 28 years of age when he enlisted the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 4st Battalion on 18th April 1917 in New Plymouth where he lived and worked.
The former clerk was married with Hilda Putt (nee Oliver) and became father of a son, Cecil Winston on 14th November 1917. When sick he was hospitalized in Rouen and returned to his unit on 1st January 1918.
Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.
On 2nd January 1918 the New Zealand Rifle Brigade went back to the front. The line was now divided into three battalion sub-sectors. The 4th Battalion replaced 3rd Auckland in Noord, which enveloped the remains of the hamlet of Noordemdhoek.
The 4th Battalion Headquarter’ “pill-box” was situated at the cross roads in J.5 central (Noordemdhoek), a spot well known in the Brigade as receiving much “dirty work” from the German artillery.
The Germans attempted to raid the point of the salient at Joiner’s Avenue in the 4th Battalion line but after a sharp fight the raiders were driven off.
Units in the forward positions worked hard to bring about some improvement in the defensive lines, and, in spite of adverse conditions, made considerable progress. The special task of the battalion for the time being in support was to assist in digging and wiring a new reserve trench, and to open up emergency overland routes to the front in preparation for meeting any possible German attack. During this tour the weather alternated between frost and snow on the one hand, and mist and drizzle on the other. German air-craft were active. Shelling continued with varying intensity upon the trenches and tracks, and carrying parties moving over the exposed routes suffered severely.
It was under these circumstances that Rifleman Cecil Fredrick Putt, 29 years old, was wounded in action. He was probably brought to the dressing post near the Butte at Polygon Wood, where he died the 7th January 1918. Now he is buried in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Special Memorial B grave 1.
Sources 2
|
Austin W.S., The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, (Uckfield, The Naval and Military Press Ltd, 2007), page 259-262. Sources used |
|
Gray J.H., From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918, (Christchurch, Willsonscott Publishing, 2010), page 175-177. Sources used |
More information 5
|
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480057 |
|
Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ead523d5-c345-44b3-bb85-35ad4e0c40b5 |
|
Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7181729 |
|
The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=210315 |
|
Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/c12682 |