Dvr
John Thomas Hirst
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 15/01/1890 |
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Place of birth: Bradford, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Profession: Mechanical Engineer |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Driver |
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Service number: 40531 |
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Enlistment date: 06/02/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Devizes, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Canadian Field Artillery, 21st (Howitzer) Bty. 4th Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Zonnebeke Church - Zonnebeke Kirche, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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White House Cemetery Plot: III Row: K Grave: 26 |
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
John T. Hirst, a former engineer, was born in January 15, 1890 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. He enlisted in Devizes, Wiltshire, England on February 6, 1915. He served in the 21st (Howitzer) Battery, of 4th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
Canadian and British artillerists were positioned in Zonnebeke form October 16 onwards. On October 25, the 21st Battery is positioned behind the ruins of Zonnebeke Church. On several occasions, the batteries of the 4th Brigade were heavily shelled. Several artillerists of this Battery were killed because of this shelling.
On November 3, 1917, lieutenant Aitkens of the 21st Battery was evacuated sick with a high fever, after being gassed a few days earlier. Aitkens survived the war, and later it was discovered that when he left his position in Zonnebeke, he took a remnant of an altar (a piece of an angel) of the church of Zonnebeke, which is now a part of the collection of the Passchendaele Museum.
John T., aged 27, was killed in action on November 3, 1917. Driver Hirst was initially buried where he fell, near Zonnebeke Church (28.D.28.a.10.70). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the White House Cemetery, Plot III, Row K, Grave 26.
Canadian and British artillerists were positioned in Zonnebeke form October 16 onwards. On October 25, the 21st Battery is positioned behind the ruins of Zonnebeke Church. On several occasions, the batteries of the 4th Brigade were heavily shelled. Several artillerists of this Battery were killed because of this shelling.
On November 3, 1917, lieutenant Aitkens of the 21st Battery was evacuated sick with a high fever, after being gassed a few days earlier. Aitkens survived the war, and later it was discovered that when he left his position in Zonnebeke, he took a remnant of an altar (a piece of an angel) of the church of Zonnebeke, which is now a part of the collection of the Passchendaele Museum.
John T., aged 27, was killed in action on November 3, 1917. Driver Hirst was initially buried where he fell, near Zonnebeke Church (28.D.28.a.10.70). After the war, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in the White House Cemetery, Plot III, Row K, Grave 26.
Sources 1
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4th Bde Canadian Field Artillery Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4967, Microfilm reel number: T-10789, File number: 537. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/454649 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5943346 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=18ae4470-2f30-44a8-98e4-25e2d6a3d5f3 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/454649 |