Arthur Raymond Trafford

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of Arthur and Elizabeth Trafford, of Matawai, Gisborne. Also served in Egypt and at Gallipoli.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

Trafford (2020)

BDM Online

NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

"21 July 1917. In the evening, I am devastated. I'm delivered a message Ray was killed last night at the Catacombs in Ploegsteert.

I do not want to believe it. He is a fine brother to me. I rush around in a madness and fight for a pass to see if it is true. I am unable to do anything. I cannot think and cannot sleep. ...

Up early, I make for the Catacombs. After a lot of trouble and messing about, I arrive at the sad spot at the entrance to the billet tunnels under Hill 63. What a place, it is absolutely ploughed with shells. The Hun must have known our battalions are living under here.

Ray's mates break it to me the news is true. He was killed by the percussion of a shell while sitting outside his dugout entrance, writing a letter to sister Eva. There was not a mark on his body. He was killed along with three officers, and a major was seriously wounded. Lieutenant Gabites has kindly forwarded the letter home." [Trafford (2020) pp103-4]

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Casualty

Service Number:

8/2164

Name:

Arthur Raymond Trafford

Date of Birth:

24 May 1894

Place of Birth:

Waerengaahika, Gisborne, Poverty Bay, New Zealand

Next of Kin:

Mr A Trafford (father), Gisborne

Religion:

Not stated

Date of Enlistment:

13 February 1915

Locality on Enlistment:

Matawai

Place of Enlistment:

Trentham, Wellington, New Zealand

Marital Status:

Single

Occupation on Enlistment:

Farm Labourer

Employer:

Mr A Trafford, Matawai

Unit:

NZEF, Otago Regiment, 1 Battalion, 8 (Southland) Company

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

20 July 1917

Day of Death:

Friday

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

5th Reinforcements

Embarkation Place:

Wellington, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

13 June 1915

Transport:

HMNZT 24
HMNZT 25
HMNZT 26

Vessel:

Maunganui or Tahiti or Aparima

Destination:

Suez, Egypt (24 July - 6 August 1915)

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Berks Cemetery Extension

Cemetery Reference:

II. D. 52.

Cemetery Location:

Belgium