3rd Battalion Wellington Regiment NZEF

[John Beech]

Hi

I am currently researching those men with the surname BEECH who died during the war. One of those listed on the CWGC is:

Name: BEECH, JOHN TEMPEST

Initials: J T

Nationality: New Zealand

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F.

Unit Text: 3rd Bn.

Date of Death: 10/08/1917

Service No: 36941

Additional information: Son of William and Sarah Sophia Beech, of Bolton, England.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 21.

Cemetery: MOTOR CAR CORNER CEMETERY

The regimental history 'The Wellington Regiment N.Z.E.F.1914—1919' by Cunningham, Treadwell and Hanna indicates that the battalion was created early in 1917 under Lieut. Col. W. H. Fletcher, who had been a major and second in command in the 2nd Battalion. When the 4th New Zealand Brigade was formed, on 15th March 1917, the battalion joined this and the brigade became part of The New Zealand Division. The history goes on to say that 'Towards the end of March, both battalions in the field sent over to England experienced officers and non-commissioned officers and these, together with others then in England, recovered from wounds and sickness, formed the nucleus of the new 3rd Battalion.' What it doesn't make clear is where the men came from, although it implies some were already in the UK, and it is this that I am looking to established. Were they transferred from the two existing Wellington Battalions, surplus troops from the evacuation from Gallipoli, were they in England recovering from wounds and sickness, or were they a new draft directly from New Zealand? Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Also, does anyone know what happened to the men when the battalion was broken up in February 1918?

As for Private BEECH, the history says that 'On the 1st August, the 3rd Battalion relieved 3rd Otago in the trenches, and remained in line until the 9th, pushing on with wiring in No-Man's-Land, and between the front and support lines. A fairly quiet time was experienced, although on the 7th and 8th, the enemy put over some gas from which the battalion had several casualties. On the 9th, we were relieved by 3rd Otago, and moved into Pontceau.' It is therefore likely that Private BEECH was wounded during this period and succumbed to his wounds on 10th August 1917.

Lest We Forget

[jacksdad]

Hi John

you need to get the blokes military file from archives NZ. that will answer you a good number of your questions.

As you have stated extra or new battalions were formed up of wounded and also new recruits who had arrived from NZ.

The wounded could have been from any other NZ battalion, your John Beech – originally enlisted with the Rifle Brigade. But others may have been from the mounted Rifles fighting in the Middle East.

What happened is that if a man was wounded badly enough to be evac to England hospitals then he would not be shipped back to the Middle East, he would be transferred to the Western front with the infantry or like.

All of the men would have been NZers or from NZ. It is not out of the question that some may have been British – but a slim chance as I would imagine that the military codes may not have allowed you just to pick and choose.

Your man John Beech signed up originally in Wellington District in NZ – so he was a Kiwi.

After the war some NZers went to Germany as the occupation force, others went home to NZ. It may well be that others demobbed and stayed in England. Maybe married a English girl and that was the reason.

try a search on this site for any reference to your man before the war. http://paperspast.na...-bin/paperspast

or http://muse.auckland...ch=john+tempest you can search other men as well and many may have there military files already availiable.

His Military file is not digitatised yet at this site http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/. there is a young 'bikey girl' on this forum who often goes to Wellington Archives and is kind enough to get these copied for free. Wendy Mac http://1914-1918.inv...?showuser=49999 she maybe able to help you out next time she is going there.

Otherwise you can apply to get this digitatised at a small fee

Cheers roger

[(nzef)]

John,

I have a photograph of his headstone in Motor Car Corner Cemetery. If you would like a copy PM me your email address.

Cheers

Grant

[Captain Dave]

Hello,

the 3rd battalion was formed at the same time as the 3rd Bns of the Canterbury, Auckland and Otago Regiments. These Bns were formed into the 4th Brigade and used during Passchedaele. The Bde was only in existance for a short period as the NZ Division was mauled during the battle and had to make good the casualties, so the 4th Bde was disbandoned and absorbed back into the Div (as well as forming three entrenching bns).

The men that formed the Bn came from the reinforcement depot in England and were in the UK due to a build up of drafts from NZ. NZ 'budgeted' X amount of reinforcements per month to be sent over from NZ and these guys had kept on arriving, but had not been posted to units. The NZ Govt was under pressure to provide a second division of troops from the UK War Office, but compromised by forming another Brigade instead. This gave NZ a large Division, as opposed to two understrenth divisions. Following Passchendaele, the NZ Govt reduced the flow of reinforcements to ensure that NZ troops were not going to be attrited prematurely again.

Hopefully this assists.

Regards

Dave.

[John Beech]

Hello,

the 3rd battalion was formed at the same time as the 3rd Bns of the Canterbury, Auckland and Otago Regiments. These Bns were formed into the 4th Brigade and used during Passchedaele. The Bde was only in existance for a short period as the NZ Division was mauled during the battle and had to make good the casualties, so the 4th Bde was disbandoned and absorbed back into the Div (as well as forming three entrenching bns).

The men that formed the Bn came from the reinforcement depot in England and were in the UK due to a build up of drafts from NZ. NZ 'budgeted' X amount of reinforcements per month to be sent over from NZ and these guys had kept on arriving, but had not been posted to units. The NZ Govt was under pressure to provide a second division of troops from the UK War Office, but compromised by forming another Brigade instead. This gave NZ a large Division, as opposed to two understrenth divisions. Following Passchendaele, the NZ Govt reduced the flow of reinforcements to ensure that NZ troops were not going to be attrited prematurely again.

Hopefully this assists.

Regards

Dave.

Dave

Many thanks for your response this has helped with my research.

Regards

John

John,

I have a photograph of his headstone in Motor Car Corner Cemetery. If you would like a copy PM me your email address.

Cheers

Grant

Grant

Many thanks for your reply

I would like a photo please.

My email is johnbbeech@ntlworld.com

Regards

John

Hi John

you need to get the blokes military file from archives NZ. that will answer you a good number of your questions.

As you have stated extra or new battalions were formed up of wounded and also new recruits who had arrived from NZ.

The wounded could have been from any other NZ battalion, your John Beech – originally enlisted with the Rifle Brigade. But others may have been from the mounted Rifles fighting in the Middle East.

What happened is that if a man was wounded badly enough to be evac to England hospitals then he would not be shipped back to the Middle East, he would be transferred to the Western front with the infantry or like.

All of the men would have been NZers or from NZ. It is not out of the question that some may have been British – but a slim chance as I would imagine that the military codes may not have allowed you just to pick and choose.

Your man John Beech signed up originally in Wellington District in NZ – so he was a Kiwi.

After the war some NZers went to Germany as the occupation force, others went home to NZ. It may well be that others demobbed and stayed in England. Maybe married a English girl and that was the reason.

try a search on this site for any reference to your man before the war. http://paperspast.na...-bin/paperspast

or http://muse.auckland...ch=john+tempest you can search other men as well and many may have there military files already availiable.

His Military file is not digitatised yet at this site http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/. there is a young 'bikey girl' on this forum who often goes to Wellington Archives and is kind enough to get these copied for free. Wendy Mac http://1914-1918.inv...?showuser=49999 she maybe able to help you out next time she is going there.

Otherwise you can apply to get this digitatised at a small fee

Cheers roger

Roger

Many thanks for your information. This is of great help to me. Since this post, I have been able to upload a copy of John's file from the New Zealand archive and am currently working through this.

Regards

John

[(nzef)]

Hi John,

I've sent you an email.

Regards

Grant