Robert Arnott
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 02/04/1881 |
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Place of birth: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Greengrocer |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
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Service number: 11193 |
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Units: — Otago Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 36 |
Cemetery
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Polygon Wood Cemetery Plot: Unknown Row: D Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Company Quartermaster Serjeant Robert Arnott served in the Otago Regiment, 2nd Battalion, part of the New Zealand Division.
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 shellholes. The right of the New Zealand position was enfiladed from Polderhoek and a decision was made to capture the spur on which the ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and German pillboxes sat.
After the unsuccessful attack on Polderhoek on 3 December 1917, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
The 2nd Battalion had its headquarters at the Polygon Butte during the period. On the 12th of December the Battalion was heavily shelled. The Otago Regiment history states that four men were killed, including one company quartermaster serjeant. It is highly possible that this was Robert Arnott since he was reported killed in action on the 12th of December 1917. He was directly buried in Polygon Wood Cemetery.
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 shellholes. The right of the New Zealand position was enfiladed from Polderhoek and a decision was made to capture the spur on which the ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and German pillboxes sat.
After the unsuccessful attack on Polderhoek on 3 December 1917, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
The 2nd Battalion had its headquarters at the Polygon Butte during the period. On the 12th of December the Battalion was heavily shelled. The Otago Regiment history states that four men were killed, including one company quartermaster serjeant. It is highly possible that this was Robert Arnott since he was reported killed in action on the 12th of December 1917. He was directly buried in Polygon Wood Cemetery.
Sources 5
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"Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918", Byrne A.E., Wilkie & Co, Ltd., s.d. page 312-315 Sources used |
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Auckland cenotaph http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C436?n=arnott%20Robert&w=World%20War%20I%2C%201914-1918&ordinal=1&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480002/arnott,-robert/ Sources used |
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NZ project http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=7238&printFormat=print Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
More information 1
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C436 |