Cpl
Hugh Decimus Bridge
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 02/01/1890 |
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Geboorteplaats: Wellington, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Klerk - Bediende |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Nieuw-Zeeland |
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Strijdmacht: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Corporal |
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Service nummer: 24332 |
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Dienstneming datum: 03/04/1916 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Trentham, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland |
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Eenheden: — New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 25/11/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Jubilee Croft, Beselare, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 27 |
Begraafplaats
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XII Rij: A Graf: 9 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
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British War Medal Medaille |
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Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats | ||
| #3 | Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering) |
Mijn verhaal
Corporal Bridge was part of the 3rd Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He enlisted in April 1916. He joined his unit in the field in June 1917. Hugh was appointed Lance Corporal in July, temporary Corporal in July and offical Corporal on 13th November.
The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood area, after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 15th of November, the 1st and 4th Battalions proceeded into the front line at Reutel. The 3rd Battalion moved into support behind them. Headquarters of the front-line battalions were located in German tunnels beneath the Butte in Polygon Wood. The artificial hill was a prominent landmark in the barren landscape and it was frequently subjected to shellfire. On the night of 19/20 November Hugh’s battalion moved into the front line at Reutel. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shellholes. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
On the night of 26th November the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were relieved by 1st Wellington and 3rd Otago. Hugh, 27, was killed on 25 November 1917, while his Battalion was holding the line near Reutel. Hugh was buried near Jubilee Croft (J.10.b.90.90.). His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. The casualties of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade for November 1917 were 41 killed and 105 wounded.
The New Zealand Division was in the Polygon Wood area, after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 15th of November, the 1st and 4th Battalions proceeded into the front line at Reutel. The 3rd Battalion moved into support behind them. Headquarters of the front-line battalions were located in German tunnels beneath the Butte in Polygon Wood. The artificial hill was a prominent landmark in the barren landscape and it was frequently subjected to shellfire. On the night of 19/20 November Hugh’s battalion moved into the front line at Reutel. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shellholes. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.
On the night of 26th November the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were relieved by 1st Wellington and 3rd Otago. Hugh, 27, was killed on 25 November 1917, while his Battalion was holding the line near Reutel. Hugh was buried near Jubilee Croft (J.10.b.90.90.). His remains were exhumed after the war and interred in Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood. The casualties of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade for November 1917 were 41 killed and 105 wounded.
Bronnen 2
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Austin W.S., The official history of the NZ Rifle Brigade East-Sussex: (The Earl of Liverpool's Own). (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press Ltd., 2007), pp 251-255. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Service Record https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/FullItem.do Gebruikte bronnen |
Meer informatie 5
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480129 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=127b1363-ffeb-43ad-bafd-e681c55cd71c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7171480 |
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The NZEF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=27828 |
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Online Cenotaph (Auckland Museum) https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/c1602 |