2nd Lt
Norman Tompsett
Informatie over geboorte
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Geboortedatum: 06/11/1894 |
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Geboorteplaats: Yalding, Kent, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
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Beroep: Architect |
Informatie legerdienst
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Land: Nieuw-Zeeland |
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Strijdmacht: New Zealand Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Second Lieutenant |
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Service nummer: 12/2495 |
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Dienstneming datum: 15/02/1915 |
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Dienstneming plaats: Trentham, Wellington, Nieuw-Zeeland |
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Eenheden: — Otago Regiment, 2nd Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
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Datum van overlijden: 12/10/1917 |
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Plaats van overlijden: Bellevue 's, Graventafel, België |
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Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Leeftijd: 22 |
Gedenkplaats
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Tyne Cot, New Zealand Apse Paneel: 3 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 3
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1914-15 Star Medaille |
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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
Norman Tompsett was born late 1894 in Yalding, Kent. He was the son of Mercy and Benjamin Tompsett. Once he had completed his studies, Norman emigrated to New Zealand, where he started working as an architect. In February 1915 he volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. By the Battle of Passchendaele Norman had been promoted to Second Lieutenant and served with the Otago Regiment, 2nd Battalion, part of the 2nd New Zealand Brigade of the New Zealand Division.
Norman’s Battalion was to attack on the 12th of October 1917. The main goal was to reach to northern outskirts of the Passchendaele village.The 2nd NZ Brigade was to attack with the 2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, the 1st Bn. Otago Regiment and the 1st Bn. Canterbury Regiment. The 2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment was in reserve. The three objectives were allotted in this order.
The attack began at 5.25 a.m. with the 2nd Otago’s positioned at the front and thus leading the assault. On their right was the Ravebeek, that could be used as a guideline to reach Passchendaele. But shortly after, they got into difficulties because of uncut wire entanglements in front of the Bellevue Ridge. Because the opening barrage didn’t cause much damage and therefore was negligible. The only gap in the wire was at a single point on the sunken Graventafel Road. While some soldiers tried to cut some paths through the wires, many soldier went to that single open point, which turned out to be a death trap. The area of the Bellevue Spur was overloaded with German defences and pillboxes. German machineguns mowed the Otago’s down and caused many casualties.
The other battalions faced the similar problems, so they also couldn’t get any further and failed to reach the Red Line. The 12th of October 1917 will be remembered as one of the most tragic days in the history of the New Zealand Army and would later be known as the Tragedy of the Bellevue Spur.
Second Lieutenant Norman Tompsett , 22-years old, was killed in action during the attack on Bellevue. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot, New Zealand Apse.
Norman’s Battalion was to attack on the 12th of October 1917. The main goal was to reach to northern outskirts of the Passchendaele village.The 2nd NZ Brigade was to attack with the 2nd Bn. Otago Regiment, the 1st Bn. Otago Regiment and the 1st Bn. Canterbury Regiment. The 2nd Bn. Canterbury Regiment was in reserve. The three objectives were allotted in this order.
The attack began at 5.25 a.m. with the 2nd Otago’s positioned at the front and thus leading the assault. On their right was the Ravebeek, that could be used as a guideline to reach Passchendaele. But shortly after, they got into difficulties because of uncut wire entanglements in front of the Bellevue Ridge. Because the opening barrage didn’t cause much damage and therefore was negligible. The only gap in the wire was at a single point on the sunken Graventafel Road. While some soldiers tried to cut some paths through the wires, many soldier went to that single open point, which turned out to be a death trap. The area of the Bellevue Spur was overloaded with German defences and pillboxes. German machineguns mowed the Otago’s down and caused many casualties.
The other battalions faced the similar problems, so they also couldn’t get any further and failed to reach the Red Line. The 12th of October 1917 will be remembered as one of the most tragic days in the history of the New Zealand Army and would later be known as the Tragedy of the Bellevue Spur.
Second Lieutenant Norman Tompsett , 22-years old, was killed in action during the attack on Bellevue. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot, New Zealand Apse.
Bronnen 6
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 128-132. Gebruikte bronnen |
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"The Official History of the Otago Regiment N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918", Byrne A.E., Dunedin, Wilkie & Co Ltd., pg. 207 - 228. Gebruikte bronnen |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Verdere verwijzing |
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Auckland Cenotaph https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C15870?n=12%2F2495&w=World%20War%20I%2C%201914-1918&ordinal=0&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch Gebruikte bronnen |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/848263/tompsett,-norman/ Gebruikte bronnen |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Gebruikte bronnen |