Pte Oliver Ernest MERRITT AIF 16th Reinforcements; 26th Battallion

[Westy11]

Pte Oliver Ernest MERRITT AIF 16th Reinforcements; 26th Battallion died 5 Oct 1918 some 37 days before the end of WWI.

Attached is a clipping of a letter written by Major F Humphery to Morris MERRITT Oliver's father. [Ref NAA: B2455, MERRITT OLIVER ERNEST page 23].

I have transcribed the letter and the second line is where I am seeking clarification. "....His body is buried at Bullecourt [?] near where he fell,+ a cross is erected to his memory. ....."

It seems that Oliver Ernest MERRITT's remains were transferred and reinterred at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

The challenge is that I don't think I have correctly transcribed the location where Oliver fell.  The reason for my concern is that my reading seems to indicate there were two battles at Bullecourt [April & May 1917].

However Oliver was killed in action on 5 Oct 1918.

Secondly I have previous located some unit diaries that recorded the action experienced by the various units but I am unable tolocate them again. I thought to look into the diaries to confirm the location of Oliver's demise and the action he experienced that day.

Any ideas where they are located?

Westy

[smithkei]

The only ref to him I can find on Find My Past is from the Commonwealth Graves.

Died 3rd Oct 1918 buried Prospect Hill Cemetery Guoy.

In the letter it seems to me it’s Bellecourt not Bullecourt. But in Wikipedia it’s called Billicourt! But I think this is maybe the battle in September 1918

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_St_Quentin_Canal. Including


Continuing attacks from 3 to 10 October (including those by the Australian 2nd Division capturing Montbrehain on 5 October and the British 25th Division capturing the village of Beaurevoir on 5/6 October) managed to clear the fortified villages behind the Beaurevoir Line, and capture the heights overlooking the Beaurevoir Line – resulting in a total break in the Hindenburg Line.[75][76] The Australian Corps was subsequently withdrawn from the line after the fighting on 5 October, for rest and reorganisation. They would not return to the front before the Armistice on 11 November.[77]

[jim1]

Bullecourt is correct. Gouy is about 40 mls. S.E. in the Arras sector.
Wrong. Looking at the trench map Bellicourt is close to the Beaurevoir Line (B. 13) on this map.
Bellicourt is in G.4 & Prospect Hill B.1.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101465257

[MaxD]

3 Oct 1918 here:

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1005307/large/4960908.JPG

The Oct 1918 diary here:
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343885
Appendix three has an account of the 3 Oct action.

Agree with jim, the map references relate to the map he shows and this one
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=13&lat=49.9744&lon=3.3066&layers=101465254&right=BingHyb


MaxD

[Westy11]

Thanks so much Max, Jim & Smith.

Westy