Cpl
Lewellyn Stanley Milburn

Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
03/09/1896
Lieu de naissance:
Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand

Informations générales

Dernière résidence connue:
St. Kilda, Dunedin, New Zealand
Profession:
Peintre
Religion:
Presbyterian

Informations service militaire

Pays:
New Zealand
Force armée:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Corporal
Numéro de service:
45231
Incorporation date:
05/01/1917
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Unités:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
15/01/1918
Lieu de décès:
Polygoneveld, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
21

Cimetière

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Parcelle: I
Rangée: A
Tombe: 6

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 3

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Dernière résidence connue
#3 Lieu d'enrôlement

Mon histoire

Corporal Lewellyn Stanley was 20 years of age when he enlisted the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion on 05th January 1917.
The former painter was still single and lived with his widowed mother in St Kilda, Dunedin. He had 2 brothers in the army: James Emerson and Robert.

Up to the end of 1917, the Allied posture had been on the basis of an early resumption of the offensive. However, it soon became apparent that the Russian collapse (the Revolution had by now taken place) would be followed by a German drive on the Western Front in the Spring.
This fact, together with the desirability of waiting for the American forces indicated a need to strengthen defences instead.
This, accordingly, became the priority on the New Zealand Division’s front, as elsewhere, and a great deal of effort was made to this end in difficult winter conditions.

On January 14th, in heavy snow, the Brigade returned to the line, taking over from the 2nd Brigade. The relief was a comparatively quiet one, and was accomplished by 08.30 p.m.
The 2nd Battalion relieved 2nd Otago in Reutel, the 3rd relieved 1st Canterbury in Judge, and the 4th took over Noord from 1st Otago. The 1st Battalion handed over Cameron Covert to 2nd Canterbury and went to the support position in Albania and Polygonveld, west of the Butte.
A thaw setting in on the following day, the front line and support trenches began to collapse in many places and soon became knee-deep in mud. At night rain came on, flooding the trenches and swamping the low-lying shelters. Drainage was a difficult problem. The general conditions were such as would favour an abnormal outbreak of “trench-foot”.
Minor raids and skirmishes by both sides continued, and from time to time, artillery fire intensified. There was a great deal of shelling on cross-roads, and other centres of activity, and casualties were occasioned in rear areas.

It was under these conditions that corporal Lewellyn Stanley Milburn, aged 21, found the death.
He was killed in action and buried in the cemetery near the Butte. Later his body was reburied in the Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood plot I, row A, grave 6.

Sources 2

Austin W.S., The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, (Uckfield, The Naval and Military Press Ltd, 2007), page 259-262.
Sources utilisées
Gray J.H., From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918, (Christchurch, Willsonscott Publishing, 2010), page 175-177.
Sources utilisées

Complément d’informations 5