Pte
Bert William Greathead
Informations sur naissance
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Année de naissance: 1892 |
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Lieu de naissance: Gippsland, Victoria, Australia |
Informations générales
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Profession: Ouvrier |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: Australia |
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Force armée: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 4427 |
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Incorporation date: 12/11/1915 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: Casula, New South Wales, Australia |
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Unités: — Australian Infantry, 20th Bn. (New South Wales) (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 09/10/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Defy Crossing, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 25 |
Cimetière
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Parcelle: V Rangée: A Tombe: 18 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 2
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Lieu d'enrôlement |
Mon histoire
Private Bert William Greathead served in the Australian Infantry 20th Battalion, part of the 5th Brigade, of the 2nd Australian Division.
On the 9th of October 1917 the 20th Battalion Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Poelcapelle, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 2nd Australian Division was to cover the right flank of the 66th British Division, and it attacked with the 5th and 6th Australian Brigades, respectively on the left and right flank.
The 5th Australian Brigade attacked with the 20th Battalion, the 17th Battalion was in support. At 5.30 a.m. the barrage came down short and some shells fell behind the attacking troops. When the men advanced they came under enfilade machine gun fire from a German position across the railway in the 66th Divisional area. Nevertheless they men were able to capture a German strongpoint at Defy Crossing. By 8.25 a.m. the Battalion took their first objective, the Red Line, which was occupied with only slight casualties.
The 17th Battalion moved through the 20th and advanced on the Blue Line, supported by parties of the 20th Battalion. The intermixed troops cleared Decoy Wood and Rhine. On the left the railway cutting was cleared with grenades and bayonets. The intermixed troops reached their final objective, but with so few men remaining, they were soon forced to pull back to the first objective, which they consolidated.
Private Bert William Greathead was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Defy Crossing. According to a witness report in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, he was killed by a shell and buried close to where he fell. His remains were exhumed after the war and were interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
On the 9th of October 1917 the 20th Battalion Australian Infantry took part in the Battle of Poelcapelle, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 2nd Australian Division was to cover the right flank of the 66th British Division, and it attacked with the 5th and 6th Australian Brigades, respectively on the left and right flank.
The 5th Australian Brigade attacked with the 20th Battalion, the 17th Battalion was in support. At 5.30 a.m. the barrage came down short and some shells fell behind the attacking troops. When the men advanced they came under enfilade machine gun fire from a German position across the railway in the 66th Divisional area. Nevertheless they men were able to capture a German strongpoint at Defy Crossing. By 8.25 a.m. the Battalion took their first objective, the Red Line, which was occupied with only slight casualties.
The 17th Battalion moved through the 20th and advanced on the Blue Line, supported by parties of the 20th Battalion. The intermixed troops cleared Decoy Wood and Rhine. On the left the railway cutting was cleared with grenades and bayonets. The intermixed troops reached their final objective, but with so few men remaining, they were soon forced to pull back to the first objective, which they consolidated.
Private Bert William Greathead was killed in action on the 9th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Defy Crossing. According to a witness report in his Red Cross Wounded and Missing File, he was killed by a shell and buried close to where he fell. His remains were exhumed after the war and were interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood.
Sources 7
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"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 104-106. Sources utilisées |
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AIF-project https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/search Sources utilisées |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10237331 Sources utilisées |
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CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480251/GREATHEAD,%20BERT%20WILLIAM Sources utilisées |
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National Archives of Australia http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources utilisées |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources utilisées |
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War Diary A.I.F. 20th Bn. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources utilisées |