L/Sjt
Harold Arthur Johnston
Informations sur naissance
Date de naissance: 30/07/1892 |
Lieu de naissance: Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand |
Informations générales
Profession: Hotel Assistant |
Informations service militaire
Pays: New Zealand |
Force armée: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
Rang: Lance Serjeant |
Numéro de service: 32343 |
Incorporation date: 26/07/1916 |
Incorporation nom de lieu: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
Unités: — Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
Date de décès: 19/12/1917 |
Lieu de décès: Butte, Polygon Wood, Belgique |
Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
Âge: 25 |
Cimetière
Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Parcelle: XII Rangée: AA Tombe: 2 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
British War Medal Médaille |
Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 2
#1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
#2 | Lieu d'enrôlement |
Mon histoire
Lance Serjeant Harold Arthur Johnston served in the Canterbury Regiment, Third Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Johnston, of 34, London St., Richmond, Christchurch, New Zealand.
The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood area, after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defenses. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shell holes. The right of the New Zealand position was enfiladed from Polderhoek and a decision was made to capture the spur on which the ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and German pillboxes sat.
After the unsuccessful attack on Polderhoek on 3 December, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. Neither the New Zealand Division history or that of the Canterbury Regiment give detailed information for the December 1917-February 1918 period so it is impossible to say with any certainty how Harold died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned. It was during this period that Harold was killed, on the 19th of December 1917.
He is among a group of New Zealand soldiers ‘Believed to be buried in this cemetery’ at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood. His name is marked at a special memorial in Plot XII, Row AA, Grave 2.a
The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood area, after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defenses. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shell holes. The right of the New Zealand position was enfiladed from Polderhoek and a decision was made to capture the spur on which the ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and German pillboxes sat.
After the unsuccessful attack on Polderhoek on 3 December, the various battalions took turns in the line and in reserve. Neither the New Zealand Division history or that of the Canterbury Regiment give detailed information for the December 1917-February 1918 period so it is impossible to say with any certainty how Harold died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned. It was during this period that Harold was killed, on the 19th of December 1917.
He is among a group of New Zealand soldiers ‘Believed to be buried in this cemetery’ at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood. His name is marked at a special memorial in Plot XII, Row AA, Grave 2.a
Sources 6
"The New Zealand Division 1916-1919 : a popular history based on official records", Stewart H., Whitcombe and Tombs, 1921, page 314 -315, page 23 Sources utilisées |
Auckland Cenotaph http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C7817?n=Johnston%20%2F%2032343&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources utilisées |
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480309/johnston,-harold-arthur/ Sources utilisées |
NZEF project http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=131501 Sources utilisées |
Service Records https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/560333 Sources utilisées |
The long, long trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/new-zealand-division/ Sources utilisées |