Rfn
Hamilton Fraser Hay

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
23/02/1881
Geboorteplaats:
Christchurch, Canterbury, Nieuw-Zeeland

Algemene Informatie

Laatst gekende woonplaats:
Linwood, Christchurch, Nieuw-Zeeland
Beroep:
Metselaar
Geloof:
Church of England

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Nieuw-Zeeland
Strijdmacht:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Rifleman
Service nummer:
15906
Dienstneming datum:
13/04/1916
Dienstneming plaats:
Trentham, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland
Eenheden:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
24/11/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Jubilee Croft, Beselare, Belgiƫ
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
36

Begraafplaats

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: XII
Rij: A
Graf: 18

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

Rifleman Hamilton Fraser Hay was born and lived in Christchurch, New Zealand. He married Beatrice Louise Barson in 1903 and together they got 5 children: Aubrey (1906), Alexander (1909), Margaret (1911), Lorna (1914) and Jack Alfred George (1916) and worked as bricklayer for the Christchurch Tramways.

On 13 April 1916 he , aged 35, enlisted the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion and sailed on 26 July 1916 for Europe where he disembarked in Devonport on 3rd October 1916.
He never met his last born as he departed in July and Jack A.G. was born 14th August 1916.

Early in November 1917 II Anzac Corps was redeployed back into the Salient but this time south, rather than north of the Ypres-Roulers railway line. Its front ranged from Tiber for nearly 5 miles south along the key Broodseinde Ridge, in front of Polygon Wood, and down to the Reutelbeek, within a mile of the Menin Road near Gheluvelt, still held by the Germans.

On 16th November 1917 the New Zealand Division took command of the Corps right sector. Its line extended for about 1,5 miles from the salient at the Noordemdhoek through the ruins of Reutel and across the northern slopes of Cameron Covert.
The headquarters of both front-line battalions of the Rifle Brigade were located in improved German tunnels in the Butte de Polygon, a huge stump-covered artificial mound in the north-eastern corner of Polygon Wood. The forward part of the sector, situated on a low plateau, was swept continuously by machine-gun fire. The whole surface of the country from the front line westward was literally disintegrated by shell-fire, and every hollow converted into a loathsome bog.

In the night of the 19th/20th November the 4th and 1st Battalions were relieved in the front line by the 2nd and 3rd respectively. Machine-gun and artillery fire continued unabated. Headquarters being subjected to a particularly heavy bombardment on the 20th. German snipers, at first very troublesome, were now being got well under control.

It was under these circumstances rifleman Hamilton Fraser Hay, 36 years of age, was killed in action near Jubilee Croft. His body was buried at place and later exhumed and reburied and now resting in Buttes New British Cemetery plot XII, row A, grave 18.

Bronnen 8

"From the Uttermost Ends of the Earth, the New Zealand Division on the Western Front 1916-1918",Gray J.H., Willsonscott Publishing, Christchurch NZ, 2010, page 159 - 161
Gebruikte bronnen
"The New Zealand Division 1916 - 1919", Stewart H., Authority of the New Zealand Government, Intype London Ltd, p304 - 306
Gebruikte bronnen
"The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade", Austin W.S., The Naval | Military Press Ltd, Uckfield UK, 2007, page 251-254
Gebruikte bronnen
Cenotaph
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6620?srt=relevance&n=hay+hamilton&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=1
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480276/hay,-hamilton-fraser/
Gebruikte bronnen
Image
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C6620?srt=relevance&n=hay+hamilton&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=1
Gebruikte bronnen
NZEF Project
https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=110725&printFormat=print
Gebruikte bronnen
The long long trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen