Pte
Stanley Clifford Harling

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
19/09/1872
Geboorteplaats:
London (City), Middlesex, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Laatst gekende woonplaats:
Dargaville, Hobson, Nieuw-Zeeland
Beroep:
Manager postorderbedrijf
Geloof:
Church of England

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Nieuw-Zeeland
Strijdmacht:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
54744
Dienstneming datum:
17/02/1917
Dienstneming plaats:
Dargaville, Hobson, Nieuw-Zeeland
Eenheden:
 —  Otago Regiment, 3rd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
21/11/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Cameron Covert, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
45

Begraafplaats

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: IX special Memorial
Rij: AA
Graf: 6

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 4

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Laatst gekende woonplaats
#3 Dienstneming plaats
#4 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

Private Stanley Clifford Harling was already 44 years of age, when he enlisted in February 1917 the 3rd Battalion of the Otago Regiment part of the New Zealand Division.
Born in London, UK, the former mail contractor and his American wife lived in Whatoro, Dargaville, Northern Island of New Zealand.

In November 1917, just beyond the New Zealand Divisional boundary a well-marked spur ran eastward like a finger from the edge of the general plateau down to the flats. On the north its sides drained into the Reutelbeek and on the south to the corresponding valley of the Scherriabeek.
The British line had been arrested at the edge of the plateau, and the spur remained in German possession. From it the enemy not only enfiladed the forward trenches about Cameron Covert and Reutel, but fully commanded and incessantly harasses the whole of the British approaches to this sector of the front. On it were perched the piled ruins of Polderhoek Chateau and groups of pillboxes which occupied sites of the attached buildings amid the shattered trees of the once luxuriant and beautiful pleasances. The Ypres Battle had seen 3 assaults delivered on the spur, and the Chateau had been temporarily won, but only to be lost again to German counter-attacks.

For the satisfactory occupation of the Division’s sector, it was highly desirable that a fresh effort should be made to capture the Polderhoek Spur.
Orders had previously been issued for the relief by the New Zealand Division of the 21st Division on the front extending from the Reutelbeek on the right to Noordemdhoek on the left, east of Polydone Wood, and accordingly the 4th Infantry Brigade on the night of November 14th-15th relieved that Division in the left sub-sector. On November 21st the 3rd Battalion of the Otago Regiment moved into the line in relief of Wellington troops on the right of the Brigade sector. Heavy rain fell all night and considerable work was required to effect drainage of the trenches. There was intermittent German shelling throughout these days.

It was during these preparations that private Stanley Clifford Harling, 45 years of age, was killed in action near Cameron Covert where he was buried immediately by his mates.
Later his body was exhumed and reburied at Buttes New British Cemetery, Special Memorial IX, row AA, grave 6.

Bestanden 1

Maps Bekijken

Bronnen 3

Bryne A.E., Official History of the Otago Regiment, NZEF in the Great War 1914-1918, 2nd Edition, (Uckfield, The Naval & Military Press Ltd Unit, 2003), p 260-261.
Gebruikte bronnen
Gray J.H., Map:From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918, (Christchurch, Willsonscott Publishing, 2010), page 160.
Gebruikte bronnen
Stewart H., The New Zealand Division 1916 - 1919, (Authority of the New Zealand Government, Intype London Ltd, 1920), p304 - 306.
Gebruikte bronnen

Meer informatie 5