Rfn
John Annett
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 21/12/1882 |
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Place of birth: Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 19224 |
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Enlistment date: 02/04/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Gisborne, Cook, New Zealand |
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Units: — New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 07/08/1917 |
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Place of death: No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, France |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 34 |
Cemetery
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Trois Arbres Cemetery Plot: I Row: W Grave: 39 |
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
John Annett was the son of James and Mary Annett, born at Kilkeel, Northern Ireland. Before he was enlisted in the army, he immigrated to New Zealand, where he worked as a labourer. He joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the 2nd of April 1916 and was a member of the ‘D’ company, 1st Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. At the beginning of August 1917, Rifleman Annett’s battalion was stationed in the Warneton Sector, south of Messines.
On the 2nd of August 1917, the 1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade relieved the 2nd Otago in the front line opposite Warneton. The conditions at the front line were miserable. Wet and cold weather combined with excessive shelling transformed the frontline trenches in a swamp of thigh-deep mud. Moreover, the soldiers had little shelter. They were permanently shelled and targeted by snipers. On the 6th of August, the 1st Bn was hit by heavy shellfire. 24 soldiers were wounded of which 12 did not survive.
Rifleman Annett was one of the soldiers who was hit by shell fire. He was injured to the chest, abdomen and legs and was brought to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Steenwerck (Bailleul, France). The next day, he succumb to his wounds. He was buried at Trois Arbres Cemetery, plot I, row W, grave 39, where he is still remembered today.
On the 2nd of August 1917, the 1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade relieved the 2nd Otago in the front line opposite Warneton. The conditions at the front line were miserable. Wet and cold weather combined with excessive shelling transformed the frontline trenches in a swamp of thigh-deep mud. Moreover, the soldiers had little shelter. They were permanently shelled and targeted by snipers. On the 6th of August, the 1st Bn was hit by heavy shellfire. 24 soldiers were wounded of which 12 did not survive.
Rifleman Annett was one of the soldiers who was hit by shell fire. He was injured to the chest, abdomen and legs and was brought to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Steenwerck (Bailleul, France). The next day, he succumb to his wounds. He was buried at Trois Arbres Cemetery, plot I, row W, grave 39, where he is still remembered today.
Sources 5
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"The official history of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own)", Austin, WL., Wellington, L.T. Watkins, 1924, pp.223-224 Sources used |
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Auckland Cenotaph https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C356?n=19224&w=World%20War%20I%2C%201914-1918&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/203025/JOHN%20ANNETT/ Sources used |
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Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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NZ Project https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=6003 Sources used |