L/Sjt
Harold Arthur Johnston

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
30/07/1892
Geboorteplaats:
Wellington, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Hotelbediende

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Nieuw-Zeeland
Strijdmacht:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Lance Serjeant
Service nummer:
32343
Dienstneming datum:
26/07/1916
Dienstneming plaats:
Trentham, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland
Eenheden:
 —  Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
19/12/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Butte, Polygon Wood, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
25

Begraafplaats

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: XII
Rij: AA
Graf: 2

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

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

Bestanden 2

Bronnen 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
Gebruikte bronnen
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
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480309/johnston,-harold-arthur/
Gebruikte bronnen
NZEF project
http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=131501
Gebruikte bronnen
Service Records
https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/records/560333
Gebruikte bronnen
The long, long trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/new-zealand-division/
Gebruikte bronnen