Pte
John Hewitt
Informations sur naissance
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Date de naissance: 10/09/1895 |
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Lieu de naissance: Saint Bathans, Otago, New Zealand |
Informations générales
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Dernière résidence connue: Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand |
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Profession: Epicier |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: New Zealand |
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Force armée: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 29781 |
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Incorporation date: 30/06/1916 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Unités: — Otago Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 24/11/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Cameron Covert, Zonnebeke, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 22 |
Cimetière
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Parcelle: I Rangée: A Tombe: 19 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 4
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Dernière résidence connue | ||
| #3 | Lieu d'enrôlement | ||
| #4 | Lieu du décès (approximatif) |
Mon histoire
Private Hewitt John was 20 years of age, when he enlisted the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Regiment part of the New Zealand Division on 30 June 1916 in Trentham, New Zealand.
The former grocer lived as single man together with his widowed mother in Dunedin.
In November 1917, just beyond the New Zealand Divisional boundary a well-marked spur ran eastward like a finger from the edge of the general plateau down to the flats. On the north its sides drained into the Reutelbeek and on the south to the corresponding valley of the Scherriabeek.
The British line had been arrested at the edge of the plateau, and the spur remained in German possession. From it the Germans not only enfiladed the forward trenches about Cameron Covert and Reutel, but fully commanded and incessantly harasses the whole of the British approaches to this sector of the front. On it were perched the piled ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and groups of pillboxes which occupied sites of the attached buildings amid the shattered trees of the once luxuriant and beautiful pleasances. The Ypres Battle had seen 3 assaults delivered on the spur, and the Chateau had been temporarily won, but only to be lost again to German counter-attacks.
For the satisfactory occupation of the Division’s sector, it was highly desirable that a fresh effort should be made to capture the Polderhoek Spur.
On November 23rd the Staff of the 2nd Infantery Brigade had proceeded to Zillebeke, and from there to the Headquarters of the 118th Brigade at Stirling Castle, were arrangements were made for temporarily taken over from that unit the front line of the sector extending from the Reutelbeek on the north to the Scherriabeek in the south, and fronting PolderhoekChateau. The new sector was immediately south of the Reutel and Noordemdhoek sectors and, incidentally, about four miles south of Passchendaele.
Preparations were now being advanced for launching an attack by troops of the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade against the German stronghold known as Polderhoek Chateau.
It was during these preparations that private Hewitt John, 22 years of age, was killed in action near Cameron Covert where he was buried near the Butte of Polygon Wood..
Later his body was exhumed and reburied at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, plot I, row A, grave 19.
The former grocer lived as single man together with his widowed mother in Dunedin.
In November 1917, just beyond the New Zealand Divisional boundary a well-marked spur ran eastward like a finger from the edge of the general plateau down to the flats. On the north its sides drained into the Reutelbeek and on the south to the corresponding valley of the Scherriabeek.
The British line had been arrested at the edge of the plateau, and the spur remained in German possession. From it the Germans not only enfiladed the forward trenches about Cameron Covert and Reutel, but fully commanded and incessantly harasses the whole of the British approaches to this sector of the front. On it were perched the piled ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and groups of pillboxes which occupied sites of the attached buildings amid the shattered trees of the once luxuriant and beautiful pleasances. The Ypres Battle had seen 3 assaults delivered on the spur, and the Chateau had been temporarily won, but only to be lost again to German counter-attacks.
For the satisfactory occupation of the Division’s sector, it was highly desirable that a fresh effort should be made to capture the Polderhoek Spur.
On November 23rd the Staff of the 2nd Infantery Brigade had proceeded to Zillebeke, and from there to the Headquarters of the 118th Brigade at Stirling Castle, were arrangements were made for temporarily taken over from that unit the front line of the sector extending from the Reutelbeek on the north to the Scherriabeek in the south, and fronting PolderhoekChateau. The new sector was immediately south of the Reutel and Noordemdhoek sectors and, incidentally, about four miles south of Passchendaele.
Preparations were now being advanced for launching an attack by troops of the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade against the German stronghold known as Polderhoek Chateau.
It was during these preparations that private Hewitt John, 22 years of age, was killed in action near Cameron Covert where he was buried near the Butte of Polygon Wood..
Later his body was exhumed and reburied at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, plot I, row A, grave 19.
Sources 9
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"Official History of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War 1914-1918", Bryne A.E., 2nd Edition, The Naval & Military Press Ltd Unit, Uckfield E.S. Uk, p 230-232 Sources utilisées |
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"The New Zealand Division 1916 - 1919", Stewart H., Authority of the New Zealand Government, Intype London Ltd, p304 - 306 Sources utilisées |
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cenotaph https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6855?srt=relevance&n=Hewitt+29781&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0 Sources utilisées |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480283/hewitt,-john/ Sources utilisées |
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Image https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6855?srt=relevance&n=Hewitt+29781&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0 Sources utilisées |
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Map:"From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918",Gray J.H., Willsonscott Publishing, Christchurch NZ, 2010, page 160 Sources utilisées |
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NZEF Project https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=114823 Sources utilisées |
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Service Record https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/551603 Sources utilisées |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources utilisées |