Pte
Henry Daniel Blane Affleck

Information about birth

Date of birth:
26/08/1891
Place of birth:
Glentunnel, Canterbury, New Zealand

General information

Profession:
Grocer's assistant

Army information

Country:
New Zealand
Force:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
24527
Enlistment date:
18/05/1916
Enlistment place:
Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand
Units:
 —  Canterbury Regiment, 1st Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
14/10/1917
Place of death:
Bellevue 's, Graventafel, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
26

Memorial

Tyne Cot, New Zealand Apse
Panel: New Zealand Apse no. 2

Distinctions and medals 2

British War Medal
Medal — 20/09/1921
Victory Medal
Medal — 28/07/1922

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Private Henry Daniel Blane Affleck, a 26-year-old grocer’s assistant from Dunedin, New-Zealand was killed in action on 14 October 1917. After the disastrous events of 12 October 1917, Henry’s unit, the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment, temporarily served as stretcher-bearers. They collected comrades who had been wounded during the attack on the Bellevue Ridge. The wounded were brought to Waterloo Farm, which was used as a regimental aid post.

On the 14th of October, private Affleck was reported killed in action. On his service record it is mentioned that he was buried between Peter Pan and Bellevue ( 28NE.D.4.d.2.2 ), which is 200 meters in front of the frontline. He might have been killed while working as a stretcher bearer. An informal armistice was observed, but the Germans fired on anyone who appeared without a stretcher. Henry Daniel Blane Affleck’s remains weren’t identified and he is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing.

Files 1

Sources 2

" The History of the Canterbury Regiment N.Z.E.F. 1914-1919 ", Ferguson D., Auckland, Whitcombe & Tombs, 1921, pg. 197-203.
Sources used
" The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account ", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995., pp. 114-116
Sources used

More information 5