Pte
Robert Lyons Harley
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 06/09/1886 |
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Place of birth: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand |
General information
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Last known residence: 17 Costley Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Profession: Storeman |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: New Zealand |
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Force: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 38695 |
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Enlistment date: 02/10/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand |
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Units: — Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Fleet Cottage, 's Graventafel, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: 52 Row: B Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Robert Lyons Harley was the son of John and Jane Harley. He was born on 6 September 1886 in Auckland, Auckland. Before the war he worked as a storeman and lived in Ponsonby, Auckland. In 1914 he married Marion Adeline. Together they had a son, Robert Rex. Robert enlisted in the New Zealand Army in October 1916, where he served in the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment (1st New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division).
Robert died on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. For the New Zealand Division two attacks were planned that day: the 1st and 4th Brigade, which also included Robert’s battalion, aimed to capture Graventafel and Abraham Heights, after which the 2nd and 3rd Brigade would pass through them and push on to the foot of the Bellevue Spur.
The attack on Graventafel and Abraham Heights consisted of two phases. A first group would cross the Hannebeek and seize the German fortified positions and trenches up to the top of the ridge. Then a second group, including the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment, would pass through and advance to the foot of the Bellevue Spur.
In the night of 3 to 4 October, Robert’s battalion occupied shell holes in the Canvas-Capricorn system. Until the morning of 4 October, German artillery bombardments were heavy. The first group succeeded in reaching their objective. At the top of the ridge, however, was the heavily defended German Korek Bunker. The 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment soon became involved in the fighting for this bunker. One section advanced further and suffered casualties from rifle fire. Others managed to encircle the German troops, who then surrendered. The New Zealand troops advanced over the ridge toward their second objective, the Bellevue Spur.
The attack was considered successful and consolidation of the captured positions began. German artillery remained active, but no counterattack followed. The next day, 5 October, artillery bombardments were still heavy. During the night of 5 to 6 October the troops were relieved.
Losses of the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment were considerable: 41 men were killed, 179 wounded and 40 missing. Robert too lost his life on 4 October at the age of 31. His body was recovered after the war near Fleet Cottage, ‘s Graventafel. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Robert died on 4 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. For the New Zealand Division two attacks were planned that day: the 1st and 4th Brigade, which also included Robert’s battalion, aimed to capture Graventafel and Abraham Heights, after which the 2nd and 3rd Brigade would pass through them and push on to the foot of the Bellevue Spur.
The attack on Graventafel and Abraham Heights consisted of two phases. A first group would cross the Hannebeek and seize the German fortified positions and trenches up to the top of the ridge. Then a second group, including the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment, would pass through and advance to the foot of the Bellevue Spur.
In the night of 3 to 4 October, Robert’s battalion occupied shell holes in the Canvas-Capricorn system. Until the morning of 4 October, German artillery bombardments were heavy. The first group succeeded in reaching their objective. At the top of the ridge, however, was the heavily defended German Korek Bunker. The 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment soon became involved in the fighting for this bunker. One section advanced further and suffered casualties from rifle fire. Others managed to encircle the German troops, who then surrendered. The New Zealand troops advanced over the ridge toward their second objective, the Bellevue Spur.
The attack was considered successful and consolidation of the captured positions began. German artillery remained active, but no counterattack followed. The next day, 5 October, artillery bombardments were still heavy. During the night of 5 to 6 October the troops were relieved.
Losses of the 2nd Battalion Auckland Regiment were considerable: 41 men were killed, 179 wounded and 40 missing. Robert too lost his life on 4 October at the age of 31. His body was recovered after the war near Fleet Cottage, ‘s Graventafel. His remains were reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 3
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Burton O.E. The Auckland regiment N.Z.E.F. 1914-1919. Being an account of the doings on active service of the first, second and third battalions of the Auckland Regiment (Auckland, Whitcombe & Tombs, 1922), 172-179. Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 113-114. Sources used |
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New Zealand Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives New Zealand, Wellington (ANZ), R16791725). http://archives.govt.nz Sources used |
More information 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463071 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d4258d8a-7e63-44e4-876c-d10b9900d5bc |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7175883 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6376 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=106838 |