Sunday, October 1, 2017

Thames (NZ): Thames' darkest month during WWI

During World War One (1914-1918), there was one month that stood out as having the darkest record for Thames, in terms of the number of Thamesites who lost their lives while fighting in the war. Twenty-two Thamesites died during October 1917. While acknowledging that there will be more names that we have not yet discovered as having a Thames connection.

This was not just Thames' darkest month, but one day in that month was said to be New Zealand's darkest day. While earlier in the month 320 New Zealanders had lost their lives at Gravenstafel Spur, nothing prepared the men for what was to follow.  On the 12th October 1917, 843 New Zealand soldiers were Killed In Action or mortally wounded at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium.

"Ever since 1917, Passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the Great War. In terms of lives lost in a single day, the failed attack on Bellevue Spur on 12 October was probably the greatest disaster in New Zealand’s history." (New Zealand History)

The twenty-two Thames men who were killed or died of wounds during October 1917, they were:
1/10/1917 In the Field, France; PETERS William26672; Rifleman 1st Batt 3rd NZRB 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; BRENAN Errol Lyndon12/2920; Corporal 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ELLIS Edwin George25992; 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GOODWIN Ernest Henry30785; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JAMIESON Ernest Harold Albert42112; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; OWENS Samuel James21318; Private 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; POLAND Hugh Francis10659; Gunner 15th Batt NZEF 1st Bde
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SCOTT Victor Richard Stanley10275; Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SHERLOCK Alfred Charles34447; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; THAYER Henry Robert42425; Lance Corporal  1st Batt AIR 
8/10/1917 in the Field, France; BROGAN Francis24/1602; Lance Corporal   2nd Batt AIR
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; AUTRIDGE Charles40271; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GRAHAM Albert Edward24/769; L/Corporal  2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GURNETT  Thomas15364; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; HANNA William Henry26611; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JORDAN Sydney Carl24/482; Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PATTON William Charles25/1198; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PEARCE William5/894; Private NZMG 3rd Coy
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; WHITE William Campbell26726; Rifleman 4th Batt 3rd NZRB 
20/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ALLEY Alfred William9872; Corporal 1st Div Art Trn AIF
30/10/1917 In the Field, France; HENDERSON Wallace12/3675; L/Corporal  3rd Batt AIR 6th Coy
30/10/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; CLEAVE John Peter30755; Private AIR 1st Batt

LEST WE FORGET
Full THAMES WWI ROH AVAILABLE HERE