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

Fichiers 2

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