Lt
Harold Roland Hill
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Mechanic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lieutenant |
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Service number: 632 |
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Enlistment date: 07/06/1915 |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 25th Bn. (Queensland) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Garter Point, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXVI Row: A Grave: 11 |
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
Lieutenant Harold Rowland Hill served in the Australian Infantry 25th Battalion, part of the 7th Australian Brigade, of the 2nd Australian Division.
On the 4th of October 1917 the 2nd Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack formation in which the 25th Battalion took part resembled that of their previous engagement at the battle of Menin Road, but instead of four waves, a fifth wave was added. This allowed the 25th to clear Zonnebeke of snipers and pillboxes during the advance.
At 4.30 am the 25th was ready for the attack and was positioned along the jumping-off line. They were lying in shell holes while the rain was pouring down on them. They waited in this position for nearly an hour. Then, at 5.25 am, the Germans unexpectedly began a barrage and came in for the attack. The waiting Australians were heavily shelled and the losses were great.
At 6.00 am the British and Australian barrage began. At the same time, the Germans ceased theirs. The Australians got up from their positions and advanced behind the barrage when they suddenly came upon the Germans in No Man’s Land. The Germans had also launched an attack and were completely caught off guard by the Australian barrage. The German infantry was totally disorganized. This gave the Australians an opportunity to advance upon them.
The 25th Battalion was assigned the task of clearing the ruins of Zonnebeke of snipers and pillboxes during the attack. They succeeded in doing so, before eventually hitting upon German machine gun fire in Daisy Wood, some 300 yards away from Zonnebeke.
Lieutenant Harold Rowland Hill was killed in action on the 4th of October 1917, near Garter Point. It is possible that he was mortally wounded moving up to the front line or in the early stages of the attack. According to several witnesses in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, Lieutenant Hill was hit by a shell during the German barrage and was carried back to a dressing station near Garter point. He died of his wounds on the stretcher and was buried not far from the dressing station. His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
On the 4th of October 1917 the 2nd Australian Division participated in the Battle of Broodseinde, a phase in the Third Battle of Ypres. The attack formation in which the 25th Battalion took part resembled that of their previous engagement at the battle of Menin Road, but instead of four waves, a fifth wave was added. This allowed the 25th to clear Zonnebeke of snipers and pillboxes during the advance.
At 4.30 am the 25th was ready for the attack and was positioned along the jumping-off line. They were lying in shell holes while the rain was pouring down on them. They waited in this position for nearly an hour. Then, at 5.25 am, the Germans unexpectedly began a barrage and came in for the attack. The waiting Australians were heavily shelled and the losses were great.
At 6.00 am the British and Australian barrage began. At the same time, the Germans ceased theirs. The Australians got up from their positions and advanced behind the barrage when they suddenly came upon the Germans in No Man’s Land. The Germans had also launched an attack and were completely caught off guard by the Australian barrage. The German infantry was totally disorganized. This gave the Australians an opportunity to advance upon them.
The 25th Battalion was assigned the task of clearing the ruins of Zonnebeke of snipers and pillboxes during the attack. They succeeded in doing so, before eventually hitting upon German machine gun fire in Daisy Wood, some 300 yards away from Zonnebeke.
Lieutenant Harold Rowland Hill was killed in action on the 4th of October 1917, near Garter Point. It is possible that he was mortally wounded moving up to the front line or in the early stages of the attack. According to several witnesses in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, Lieutenant Hill was hit by a shell during the German barrage and was carried back to a dressing station near Garter point. He died of his wounds on the stretcher and was buried not far from the dressing station. His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
Sources 5
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"Black over blue : the 25th battalion, AIF at War 1915-1918", Doneley R., USQ Press, cop. 1997, page 101 - 103 Sources used |
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AIF Project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=137534 Sources used |
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AWM https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342858 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480287/hill,-harold-rowland/ Sources used |
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Service Records https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3012069 Sources used |