Faces of Passchendaele

A hardworking military man: Rifleman Geoffrey Crawcour Wilson

An English-born farmer from Rotokohu, 21 year old Rifleman Wilson volunteered for service in 1915. He served in the New Zealand Army for a period of 2 years and 138 days.

Serving with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade during the Egyptian Campaign of 1915-1916, he was wounded twice in 1916 and subsequently hospitalised in France.  

In late 1916, Rifleman Wilson’s battalion moved to the Western Front, for the last phase of the Battle of the Somme, and the Battle of Messines before eventually moving to Passchendaele.

The 3rd Battle of Ypres had begun in July 1917, and by the time the New Zealand battalions were engaged at Passchendaele in early October initial successes had faded with heavy rain and artillery fire turning the battlefield into a quagmire. 

On the morning of the 12th October, the 2nd Battalion advanced across open ground towards Bellevue Spur on the Passchendaele Ridge, which unknown to them had been fortified with German concrete pillboxes armed with machine guns. Many soldiers, including Wilson, were killed as they pressed on against heavy opposition.

Following Wilson’s death, his family in England were presented with his 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, in addition to the 'death penny' given to each bereaved family. 

This single tag was returned to his family, along with his 16th Waikato collar badge engraved with the motto: “Ka Whawhai, Tonu, Ake Ake”. 

Rifleman Wilson is buried at Poelcapelle British Cemetery in Belgium.     

Lieutenant Hugh Alexander Forrest: A determined and courageous leader 

Born in 1893 in Wellington but moving to Auckland at an early age due to his father’s career as a postmaster, Hugh Forrest (known as Alex) showed an early desire for military service. He undertook territorial service with the Junior Cadets from the age of 14, before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and placed in charge of the 54th Company (North Auckland) Senior Cadets in 1912. 

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“He had always taken a keen interest in military matters, and was in the College Rifles till he transferred to the Takapuna Senior Cadets as Lieutenant – in-Charge” 

-Obituary for H. A. Forrest. Auckland Grammar School chronicle. 1917, v.5, n.2. p.16.

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In 1915, he moved to the 18th Company (Auckland) Senior Cadets based in the suburb of Ponsonby, closer to his family home and his university classes. Upon completing a law degree in May 1916, Forrest left a promising career as a solicitor in July to enlist with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Following promotion to lieutenant in charge of J Company 22nd Reinforcements, he embarked on the SS Navua at Wellington on the 15th of February, 1917 arriving in England on 26th April. In June he was appointed a platoon commander within ‘B’ Company, 2nd Battalion the 3rd New Zealand Rifles Brigade on the front line in France. 

Lieutenant Forrest was killed, aged 24, during the attack on Bellevue Spur. His body was recovered, and later buried in the New Irish Farm Cemetery, in Ypres.

Forest is mentioned on many memorials throughout Devonport, as well as the College Rifles Rugby Club, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum World War One Hall of Memories. 
 

In October 1919 White Hill, in the Auckland suburb of Takapuna, was renamed Forrest Hill Road in his memory. 

Further information, including photographs of Lieutenant Hugh Alexander Forrest, can be found on Online Cenotaph.