Sgt
Cecil Stanley Merrett
Informations sur naissance
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Date de naissance: 05/04/1896 |
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Lieu de naissance: Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand |
Informations générales
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Profession: Berger |
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: Sergeant |
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Numéro de service: 27341 |
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Incorporation date: 31/05/1916 |
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Incorporation nom de lieu: Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand |
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Unités: — Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 18/12/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Bois du Polygone, Zonnebeke, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 21 |
Cimetière
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Parcelle: I Rangée: B Tombe: 9 |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 3
| #1 | Lieu de naissance | ||
| #2 | Lieu d'enrôlement | ||
| #3 | Lieu du décès (approximatif) |
Mon histoire
Serjeant Cecil Stanley Merrett served in the Canterbury Regiment, Third Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade. He was the son of Mrs. Merrett, of 90, Neville St., Spreydon, 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 Cecil died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
However, it is noted on the burial return of 7 November 1919, that Sgt. Merrett had not being identified. He was listed as an ‘unknown soldier’, along with the body of Sgt Clements, of 3rd Canterbury Battalion, and also killed on 18 December 1917. On a later graves registration report, Merretts’ name has been added in handwriting.
Clements and Merritt share a grave at Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot I, Row B, grave 9.
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 Cecil died. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
However, it is noted on the burial return of 7 November 1919, that Sgt. Merrett had not being identified. He was listed as an ‘unknown soldier’, along with the body of Sgt Clements, of 3rd Canterbury Battalion, and also killed on 18 December 1917. On a later graves registration report, Merretts’ name has been added in handwriting.
Clements and Merritt share a grave at Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot I, Row B, grave 9.
Sources 6
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"The New Zealand Division 1916-1919 : a popular history based on official records", Stewart H., Whitcombe and Tombs, 1921, page 314 - 315, page 23 (chart) Sources utilisées |
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Auckland cenotaph https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C10663?n=Merrett%20%2027341&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Sources utilisées |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480368/merrett,-cecil-stanley/ Sources utilisées |
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NZEF project https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=175665 Sources utilisées |
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Service Records http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE19682131 Sources utilisées |
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The long,long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army Sources utilisées |