Sgt
Cecil Stanley Merrett
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 05/04/1896 |
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Place of birth: Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand |
General information
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Profession: Shepherd |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 27341 |
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Enlistment date: 31/05/1916 |
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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: 18/12/1917 |
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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: 21 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: I Row: B Grave: 9 |
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
Serjeant Cecil Stanley Merrett served in the Canterbury Regiment, Third Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade. He was the son of Mrs. Merrett, of 90, Neville St., Spreydon, 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 Cecil died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
However, it is noted on the burial return of 7 November 1919, that Sgt. Merrett had not being identified. He was listed as an ‘unknown soldier’, along with the body of Sgt Clements, of 3rd Canterbury Battalion, and also killed on 18 December 1917. On a later graves registration report, Merretts’ name has been added in handwriting.
Clements and Merritt share a grave at Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot I, Row B, grave 9.
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 Cecil died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
However, it is noted on the burial return of 7 November 1919, that Sgt. Merrett had not being identified. He was listed as an ‘unknown soldier’, along with the body of Sgt Clements, of 3rd Canterbury Battalion, and also killed on 18 December 1917. On a later graves registration report, Merretts’ name has been added in handwriting.
Clements and Merritt share a grave at Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot I, Row B, grave 9.
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 (chart) Sources used |
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Auckland cenotaph https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C10663?n=Merrett%20%2027341&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480368/merrett,-cecil-stanley/ Sources used |
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NZEF project https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=175665 Sources used |
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Service Records http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19682131 Sources used |
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The long, long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army Sources used |