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William Flowers

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
12/01/1891
Geboorteplaats:
Collingwood, Tasman, Nieuw-Zeeland

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Koolmijnwerker

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Nieuw-Zeeland
Strijdmacht:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
42797
Eenheden:
 —  Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
22/11/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Joiners Rest, Belgiƫ
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
26

Begraafplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 1

#1 Geboorteplaats

Mijn verhaal

Private William Flowers served in the Canterbury Regiment, Third Battalion, 4th New Zealand Brigade. He was the brother of Charles Flowers, of Pakawau, Collingwood, Nelson, New Zealand.

His unit was in the Polygon Wood sector after the end of the Third Battle of Ypres. Much of the time was spent in wiring, repairing crumbling trenches and improving defences. The landscape was covered with waterlogged shellholes.

Neither the New Zealand Division history or that of the Canterbury Regiment give detailed information for the November 1917-February 1918 period so it is impossible to say with any certainty how William Flowers died on 22 November 1917. On the night of 21/22 November, 3rd Canterbury Battalion relieved the 3rd Auckland Battalion at a position called Joiners Rest, at Polygon Wood and it can be presumed he was killed during this event. The opposing German forces generally held higher ground, and movement in the New Zealand lines was often observed and shelled or machine-gunned.

He is buried in Buttes New British Cemetery in Plot IX, Row AA, Grave 8 with others of the 3rd Canterbury Battalion who died on 22 November 1917.

Bestanden 2