27096 L/corporal William Andrew McNoe, 2/10/1893-6/4/1918.

William McNoe was a labourer living in Milton when he joined the army in June, 1916.  He left with the 8th Reinforcements in November and was drafted to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

He was wounded almost a year to the day after he joined, on June 21 1917 during the Battle of Messines.  He was promoted to Lance-corporal in November.

William was killed during the hectic period of the German Spring Offensive when New Zealand troops were pushed into the breach torn in British lines by the advancing Germans.    He was 24 years old.

Balclutha Old Cemetery.

April 5, 1918. A hot day for the NZ Rifles

Late March, 1918 saw the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in positions near Colincamps, in the Somme area of France.  The Brigade had been deployed

 The "Kaiserschlacht" was in full force and action was more or less constant.  Night reconnaissance by both sides was frequent.

On the evening of April 4 the Brigade held a 3000 yard front with three Battalions; 3rd, 4th and 1st from left to right.  The night was relatively quiet, the only incident being the discovery of a German patrol in front of the wire of a 1st Battalion machine gun post.  The Lance-corporal in charge did his best to take the German officer prisoner but, encountering resistance, used his pistol.  The rest of the patrol were seen off with the machine gun.

At 5am German artillery opened up.  Heavy shelling continued for three hours, reaching back to support areas.  There was no doubt that something big was developing.  All signal wires were cut by the barrage.  

At 8.30am the barrage lifted from the front line and moved back to the rear lines.  Advancing German soldiers were soon seen coming through the smoke and haze.  The Germans were using new tactics in their advance, not pressing the attack where the resistance was strong and moving in where it was weak.  They lost many men to the NZ Rifles while advancing over open ground before groups managed to reach trenches where the fighting was close, with grenade and machine gun.  By noon the commander of the centre company of the 1st Battalion was able to report: “We have beaten off two attacks by the Hun and are wanting him to put in a third.”  He was not, states the Official History, to have his wish gratified.

The First Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade reported two officers and 26 men killed on that day, the Fourth reported one officer and 25 men killed.  The Third Battalion's casualties were reported as "Slight."

From my list, the 1st Battalion's losses included Rifleman John Findlay McArthur from Gore, Southland;  Corporal Thomas Milne from Raes Junction, Otago; Rifleman George Francis Burnett, from Peebles, Otago.

The 4th Battalion's losses included Rifleman Benjamin Fox from Fortrose and Lieutenant Thomas John Hirst Drysdale from Port Chalmers who died of wounds on April the sixth.

Although described as "slight," the 3rd Battalion's losses included Rifleman Harry Gill, from Hastings, whose parents lived in Oamaru.

47028 Rifleman John Findlay McArthur, 14/10/1892-5/4/1918.
was born and raised in Dunedin.  Before enlisting he was a painter and tinsmith, working for Farra Bros. and played for the Zingari-Richmond rugby club.  He died at 25.

from Archives NZ

53393 Corporal Thomas Andrew Milne  20/12/1896-5/4/1918
Thomas came from Rae's Junction, Otago.  His records show that he was promoted before joining a front line unit, reverted to Rifleman, then was promoted while in the line.  His death was announced in the "Tuapeka Times" on April 27: "reported killed-in-action in France on 5th April, was the fourth son of Mr and Mrs John Milne, very old and highly respected residents of Raes Junction. The deceased, who was born and educated in that district, was 21 years of age, and volunteered for service immediately he reached his 20th year, leaving New Zealand with the 27th Reinforcements. On arrival in England he was almost immediately transferred to France. All his life prior to going on active service was spent in the Raes Junction district, where his genial and manly disposition made him a great favourite with everyone in the district, and in their sorrow Mr and Mrs Mine and family have the sincere sympathy of a very wide circle of friends throughout Tuapeka."

His 1919 "In Memoriam":
MILNE. — In loving memory of Corporal Thomas Andrew Milne, killed in action in France on 5th April, 1918, in his 21st year. 

As long as life and memory last 

We will remember thee. 

— Inserted by his loving Parents, Brothers and Sisters.

23/86 Rifleman George Francis Burnett, 19/11/1892/5/4/1918.

George Burnett grew up at Peebles, in the Waitaki Valley, his occupation on enlistment was Shepherd.  He enlisted in 1915 and saw action in Egypt and France.  He was slightly wounded by a bullet in the neck in June of 1917.

Papakaio Cemetery, Waitaki Valley

Papakaio Cemetery

53171 Rifleman Benjamin Fox,  10/5/1892-5/4/1918.
Benjamin Fox was born and raised at Fortrose on the south coast of the South Island of NZ.  He was 25 when he was killed.

Fortrose Cemetery

4/95A Second Lieutenant Thomas John Hirst Drysdale, ?/2/1882-5/4/1918.

Originally from Port Chalmers, Otago, and the son of a Glaswegian doctor, Drysdale lived in Port Chalmers and was a distiller's clerk.  He enlisted in the NZ Army in September 1914 while in the UK at the age of 31.  He was wounded in the left foot in 1915 as a Sapper in the NZ Field Engineers.  In August of 1917 he went on an Officer Training Course and was assigned to the NZ Rifle Brigade.

Port Chalmers Cemetery

38153 Rifleman Harry Gill,  16/12/1883-5/4/1918.
Harry Gill was born in Oamaru and was a consistent Dux in each of his school years.  His friends and family believed him destined for a literary career but he became an auctioneer in Oamaru.  He was a keen sportsman.  Harry's literary promise can be judged by this passage, published two weeks after his death in the Hastings Standard - his brother lived in Hastings and is the probable source of it:

Oamaru Cemetery

"ON TREK."

(By the "Late HARRY GILL") 

And the night shall be filled with music
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like Arabs,
And as silently steal away

-Longfellow

To the strains of music from the band, the clatter of hammers, and the singing o£ men, we began to shift camp as darkness approached. Tents, packs, equipment were loaded on the waggons. The camp was cleared up. Then with Mother Earth for our couch, and the sky for counterpane we slept. At midnight the rain came — heavier and still heavier. The whole aspect of the camp changed. Stillness gave place to much talk, and some profanity. Forms were flitting about in the darkness, looking for shelter. We breakfasted in the darkness and the rain. Then came the order "Fall in!" At 2 a.m. we swung out on the march that was to take us to our new home. From village to town, from farmhouse to shop, we went —singing! On we trekked, one hour marching between an avenue of tall trees, the next past fields of ripened corn. One wondered why the nations in such a beautiful world should fight. Thus from place to place we trekked — birds singing, church bells ringing, peasants — mostly old men and women and children — wending their ways to Mass. The sun came out, and all the world was bright and joyous. At the end of another day we were in billets. A wash, a meal, and then sleep again — the sleep that only those who have toiled in the fresh air can sleep. Then off again in the morning sunlight, through the smiling French landscape. Our band plays, the men whistle or sing in chorus. The villagers come to their doors and windows to see us pass, and there is much "Bon jour, madame!" as well as greeting for monsieur, and many a smile from mademoiselle. The cheery children follow at the Column's side. And so to our new home. It will not be our home for long. The soldier of to-day stays not long in one place. He is in and out of the line. Here to-day, gone to-morrow. Grumble! Of course we did; but taking it all in all, we were cheery and happy. The soldier can never forget that he has come to this land for a purpose — to win the war. And so the cares of the day fold their tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal away. Later will come the thunder of the guns, the dull explosions of bombs, the cackle of the machineguns ; and perhaps death, or wound, or sickness. And. at intervals, through it all, like sparkling glimpses of sunshine on running stream, thoughts of the dear Homeland in far away New Zealand. You. too. in the Land of the Long White Cloud, will have a thought for us, hoping to see us back some day. But many of us will have folded our tents for the Last Trek.

The Canterburys and the Camel Corps on Hill 3039

Amman is now the capital city of Jordan and, in 1918, was the objective of British Empire forces fighting the Ottoman Empire in Palestine.  It lay across the Hejaz Railway which featured in the adventures of a certain Captain Lawrence.  It was on the route to the local administrative centre of Damascus and was dominated by Hill 3039.

The assault on Hill 3039 began on the morning of March 27.  Briefly, the units which took it, including the CMR and Camel Corps, were without artillery support.  This did not prevent them from taking the hill but meant that enemy artillery had no opposition when they shelled the hill in preparation for the counter-attack.  The full story of Hill 3039 can be found here.

There are five soldiers on my 1918 list who died on Hill 3039.

16375 Trooper Thomas Bowman, 29/8/1893-30/3/1918.

"THE LATE TR. BOWMAN.

We take the following reference to the death of one of our district's boys from from a recent issue of the Wyndham Farmer: Quite a gloom was cast over the Edendale district when word was received that Trooper Thomas Russell Bowman had been killed in action in Palestine, on March 30. Trooper Bowman, who was 24 years of age. was the older son of Mrs W. Buchanan, Beaumont. Otago, and his younger brother Trooper James A. Bowman, is away with the 36th Reinforcements. The subject of this notice was educated first at Beaumont, and later at Lawrence High School. He took up office work, but for health reasons turned his attention to farming. When quite a youth he came to Edendale and worked on various farms in our neighbourhood. He spent about three years with Mr Charles Milne. "Thornlie Park" Edendale. There he was held in the highest esteem both as a workman and a personal friend for, without a doubt, his home training showed itself to advantage. One did not need to be long in the young man's company to find that he was a "home boy" and a well brought up one at that, Russell Bowman possessed a very taking way and his manly qualities endeared him to all who knew him. He was a first-class horseman, thus accounting for his enlisting in the Mounteds and he went away with the 17th Mounted Reinforcements. On arriving in Egypt he was transferred to the Camel Corps, where he remained till the last. A Christmas card got up by the Camel Corps, to send to friends at home, is inscribed with these beautiful lines: — 

"We fight for  those who love us; For those who love us true; For the Heaven that smiles above us. And awaits our spirits, too. For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wrongs that need resistance, for the future in the distance. And the good that we can do." 

"This, then, is the spirit in which Tr. T. K. Bowman laid down his life just in the prime of young manhood. New Zealand is the poorer through losing one of his stamp."  -Tuapeka Times, 1/5/1918

17388 Trooper John William Hugh Craig, 29/9/1893-30/3/1918.

"Advice has been received by Mr Wm. Craig (Awamangu) from the Minister for Defence (Hon. Jas. Allen) that his elder son, Trooper John Wm. Hugh Craig, was killed in action on March 30 in the Palestine campaign. Trooper Craig was born at Dunedin and educated at Sutton and Awamangu. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm at Awamangu. He enlisted and left with the 18th reinforcement draft, and after his arrival in Egypt was transferred from the New Zealand Mounted Division into the Imperial Camel Corps. At the time of his death he was 24 years of age. Widespread regret will he felt in Awamangu and Greenfield districts, where the deceased soldier was very well known and exceedingly popular."  -Bruce Herald, 18/4/1918.

Balclutha Cemetery

12597 Lance-corporal Hugh William Graham, 8/11/1895-30/3/1918.

Lance-corporal Hugh W. Graham, reported to have made the supreme sacrifice on March 30, was 22 years of age and a son of Mrs J. Graham, of Mataura Island. He was a native of Brighton, Otago, and received his education at Seaward Downs and the Southland Boys’ High School. Lance-corporal Graham was working on his mother’s farm at the Island up till his enlistment in the mounted section of the Eleventh Reinforcement. He was always a keen territorial; and was leader of the Boys’ Bible class and superintendent of the Sunday school at the Island. A brother, Trooper Jim Graham, of the Thirtieth Reinforcement, is also in Palestine, where he met Hugh a month before the latter’s death. 

-Southland Times, 10/4/1918

Balclutha Cemetery

46770 Trooper Walter McNeill, 23/8/1888-30/3/1918.

Walter grew up in Milburn, south of Dunedin, the son of Irish immigrants.  He was the Station Manager at Cattle Flat, on the Mataura River, when he enlisted. He left New Zealand in June, 1917.  He was posted to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles in September, 1917.

He was 30 years old when he died.

Fairfax Cemetery, Milton

12663 Trooper James Charles Willocks, 24/3/1892-30/3/1918.

Private James Charles Willocks (a son of Mrs M. Willocks, Hillend district) is reported as wounded and missing on March 30th, in the Mesopotamia campaign. He was engaged in Messrs Dalgety and Co.'s office at Balclutha prior to enlistment.  -Bruce Herald, 11/4/1918

Trooper James Charles Willocks (reported wounded and missing) is the younger son of Mrs and the late Mr James Willocks, of Stony Creek. Trooper Willocks was born at Stony Creek, and received his education at the Balcutha District High School. After leaving school he was engaged for a time at farming operations, but later joined the staff of Dalgety and Company Limited, at Balclutha. He was in the employ of this firm prior to his enlistment with the 12th Reinforcements. In December, 1916, while serving with the Canterbury Mounted in Egypt, he was wounded, but after three months in hospital rejoined his unit. From that time he had been with the British, forces operating in Palestine.  -Evening Star, 13/4/1918.

Balclutha Cemetery

41981 2nd Lieutenant George Malcolm, 24/9/1895-28/3/1918.

George Malcolm grew up at Enfield, to the west of Oamaru and was a law student at the University of Otago when he enlisted in the Army.  He had already become a Bachelor of Arts, being named "senior scholar in mental and moral philosophy."  He was in the same Battalion of the Rifle Brigade as Alfred Birchall and died on the same day.  Maybe they died at the same time.

George was 22 years old when he died.

Oamaru Old Cemetery

53121 L/cpl Alfred Urmson Birchall, NZRB, 9/2/1892-28/3/1918.

Alfred Birchall grew up at 648 North Road, North East Valley, Dunedin.  When he was 20 his father bought a farm over the the hill, at Maungatua on the Taieri Plain.  Alfred worked on the farm with his father.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin

He enlisted in the middle of 1917 and by November of that year he was a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion of the NZ Rifle Brigade.  Two months later he was promoted to Lance-corporal then spent some time in hospital - the remark against this in his record says: "Accidentally injured on duty.  Disciplinary action not necessary."  He was discharged to duty on February 20th.

March of 1918 saw the NZ Rifle Brigade behind the lines near Ypres.  They marched, practised and worked on the preparations for the expected German offensive.  On March 20 and 21 their area was shelled by German artillery using high explosive and gas.

I have been unable to find the details of Alfred's death.  The Brigade seems not to have been in action on March 28th.  Perhaps it was an unlucky German shell.

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE. 

IN MEMORIAM.

BIRCHALL.— In loving memory of our dear son, Alfred Urmson Birchall, who was killed in action in Franco on March 28, 1918. 

And when God saw his work on earth was done 

He gently called to him: "My son, My son, 

I need thee for a greater work than this; 

Thy faith, thy zeal, thy fine activities 

Are worthy of My larger liberties"; 

Then drew him with the hand of welcoming grace, 

And side by side, they climbed the heavenly ways.   - Otago Daily Times, 28/3/1919.

55462 Private William Henry Feather, 5/2/1885-28/3/1918.

William Feather was a farm labourer in Cheviot when he joined the Army in May of 1917. He had been married for just under two years, and had a boy named Alick. Two months' training saw him for for the battle but needed to spend a month in hospital not long after his arrival in England.  He left for France at the end of 1917.

William was part of the 1st Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment  which was thrown into the gap which had been driven in British lines by the attacking Germans.  They marched off to find the enemy at noon on March 26, with platoons separated by 100 yards and behind a screen of scouts.  They reached the abandoned British trenches which had been dug two years before, which was a great piece of luck.  Had the Germans arrived, removing them from a ready-made trench system would have been a difficult job.

The night of the 26th was quiet and there was no interference in the small mount of work needed to make the old trenches ready for the enemy attack.  Fighting patrols were put out ahead to observe and harass enemy positions.

The morning of March 27 began quietly.  German shells began to fall at about 9am, light at first and becoming heavy and joined by mortar and grenade fire.  Then, at noon, the infantry attack came.  William's Battalion took the heaviest weight of the attack and it is likely that it was then that he died.

His son Alick lived to the age of 82.

East Taieri Cemetery, Allan Steel photo.

FEATHER — In loving memory of Private William Henry Feather, killed in action, March 27th, 1918. "There is one link death cannot sever — Fond remembrance lasts for ever." Inserted by his loving wife. - The Press, 27/3/1919.

35642 Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Banks Laidlaw, 22/8/1889-27/3/1918.

Private advice was received from the Minister of Defence last evening to the effect that Second Lieut. A. F. Laidlaw had been killed in action on March 27. This is the second son of Mr Robert Laidlaw, sen., of Herne Bay, to make the supreme sacrifice. On the 17th day of the same month only two years ago the sad news was received that Lieut J. R. Laidlaw, R.N.F.C, had been killed in an aeroplane accident. Now his brother, Arthur has fallen fighting in the great cause. Lieut. A. F. Laidlaw volunteered in the early stages of the war for the Artillery, for which he studied hard for months, but when it was found there was a surplus for that branch, at the suggestion of the authorities, he willingly transferred to the infantry. 

Entering camp as a private, he quickly gained his stripes as corporal, then sergeant, and in the examination for commissions he secured second highest marks, and was duly gazetted second lieutenant. Finally he left the Dominion as adjutant of the troopship in which he sailed. After only four weeks in England he was drafted across to France, where he has since been in the firing line. It is clear from the cable that he is only one of many who met death in the present big offensive. Such is a brief resume of the military career of one of New Zealand's sons. He leaves a young wife and baby girl and a family who have now to mourn the loss of two sons. In business he was associated with the deceased Lieut. J. R. Laidlaw and Mr. Robert A. Laidlaw, head of the well known firm of Laidlaw Leeds, who is now the sole surviving son of the family." - Auckland Star, 9/4/1918.

St Clair School Hall

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin

NB: His brother, John, will be the subject of a further story.   I was initially confused when I saw the initials RNFC on his stone in the southern Cemetery and a little research based on his rank of Sub-lieutenant showed that the RNFC (Royal Naval Flying Corps) did not exist.  This aerial service of the Royal Navy was the Royal Naval Air Service until its amalgamation with the Army's Royal Flying Corps on April 1st, 1918.  For some reason, the papers reporting John's death used the letters RNFC and the family and/or stonemason making the inscription followed suit.