L/Sjt
Harold Arthur Johnston
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 30/07/1892 |
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Place of birth: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
General information
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Profession: Hotel Assistant |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Serjeant |
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Service number: 32343 |
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Enlistment date: 26/07/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Units: — Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 19/12/1917 |
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Place of death: Butte, Polygon Wood, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XII Row: AA Grave: 2 |
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 | Enlistment place |
My story
Lance Serjeant Harold Arthur Johnston served in the Canterbury Regiment, Third Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnston, of 34, London St., Richmond, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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 defenses. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shell holes. 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, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. Neither the New Zealand Division history or that of the Canterbury Regiment give detailed information for the December 1917-February 1918 period so it is impossible to say with any certainty how Harold died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned. It was during this period that Harold was killed, on the 19th of December 1917.
He is among a group of New Zealand soldiers ‘Believed to be buried in this cemetery’ at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood. His name is marked at a special memorial in Plot XII, Row AA, Grave 2.a
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 defenses. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shell holes. 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, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. Neither the New Zealand Division history or that of the Canterbury Regiment give detailed information for the December 1917-February 1918 period so it is impossible to say with any certainty how Harold died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned. It was during this period that Harold was killed, on the 19th of December 1917.
He is among a group of New Zealand soldiers ‘Believed to be buried in this cemetery’ at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood. His name is marked at a special memorial in Plot XII, Row AA, Grave 2.a
Sources 6
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"The New Zealand Division 1916-1919 : a popular history based on official records", Stewart H., Whitcombe and Tombs, 1921, page 314 -315, page 23 Sources used |
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Auckland Cenotaph http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C7817?n=Johnston%20%2F%2032343&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480309/johnston,-harold-arthur/ Sources used |
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NZEF project http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=131501 Sources used |
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Service Records https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/560333 Sources used |
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The long, long trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/new-zealand-division/ Sources used |