Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me!
Menu
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me!
Private Frederick Martin Strez
Description
TitlePrivate Frederick Martin StrezSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionFrederick was born at Lakeside 27 February 1896, son of John and Christina Strez. Before enlisting he was working for his father on their farm at Lakeside. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He had some military experience which he described as general training at Leeston.
He enlisted on 2 May 1916 and was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked from Dunedin on 20 August 1916 on board the Mokoia and arrived in Devonport on 24 October 1916. He marched into Sling Camp the next day and almost a month later he left for France on 15 November arriving in Etaples the next day. He joined 2nd Battalion in the field on 2 December. He was sent to Hospital on 30 April 1917 with scabies, being admitted to 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques. He was discharged on 7 May and re-joined his unit next day. A month later he was wounded in action on 7 June suffering a gun-shot wound to his arm and side. Taken up by No.77 Field Ambulance he was admitted to hospital at Abbeeville on 8th June. He was sent to England on 26 June. Once he arrived he was sent to No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brokenhurst arriving on 28 June. In a letter to his parents, written in June, he stated that the wound was still troubling him and that he had not the full power of one of his arms. Close to a month later he was sent to convalesce at Hornchurch on 27 July 1917 and then another month later on 31 August he was attached to the strength at Codford. Arriving back in Etaples on 5 November 1917, he was transferred from 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment to No.2 Entrenching Battalion on 6 July 1918. He joined the Battalion and was attached to the Headquarters Entrenching Group on 7 July. He re-joined the Entrenching Battalion in the field on 31 July. He was wounded in action on 6th August aged 22. Although taken up by the 49th field ambulance, he died of a gun-shot wound to his back. In March 1920 his mother received word that his body had been reburied in Bienvilliers Cemetery by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In New Zealand Frederick is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Bienvillers is a large village in the department of the Pas de Calais 18 kilometres south-west of Arras. Bienvillers Military Cemetery was begun in September 1915 by the 37th Division, carried on by other divisions in the line until March 1917, reopened from March to September 1918, when the village was again near the front line.First NameFrederick MartinLast NameStrezFamilySingleSon of John and Christina StrezDate of Birth27 February 1896Place of BirthLakesideDate of Death6 August 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathDied from woundsAge at Death22
He enlisted on 2 May 1916 and was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked from Dunedin on 20 August 1916 on board the Mokoia and arrived in Devonport on 24 October 1916. He marched into Sling Camp the next day and almost a month later he left for France on 15 November arriving in Etaples the next day. He joined 2nd Battalion in the field on 2 December. He was sent to Hospital on 30 April 1917 with scabies, being admitted to 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques. He was discharged on 7 May and re-joined his unit next day. A month later he was wounded in action on 7 June suffering a gun-shot wound to his arm and side. Taken up by No.77 Field Ambulance he was admitted to hospital at Abbeeville on 8th June. He was sent to England on 26 June. Once he arrived he was sent to No.1 NZ General Hospital at Brokenhurst arriving on 28 June. In a letter to his parents, written in June, he stated that the wound was still troubling him and that he had not the full power of one of his arms. Close to a month later he was sent to convalesce at Hornchurch on 27 July 1917 and then another month later on 31 August he was attached to the strength at Codford. Arriving back in Etaples on 5 November 1917, he was transferred from 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment to No.2 Entrenching Battalion on 6 July 1918. He joined the Battalion and was attached to the Headquarters Entrenching Group on 7 July. He re-joined the Entrenching Battalion in the field on 31 July. He was wounded in action on 6th August aged 22. Although taken up by the 49th field ambulance, he died of a gun-shot wound to his back. In March 1920 his mother received word that his body had been reburied in Bienvilliers Cemetery by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In New Zealand Frederick is remembered on the Leeston Plaque of the Ellesmere County War Memorial.
Bienvillers is a large village in the department of the Pas de Calais 18 kilometres south-west of Arras. Bienvillers Military Cemetery was begun in September 1915 by the 37th Division, carried on by other divisions in the line until March 1917, reopened from March to September 1918, when the village was again near the front line.First NameFrederick MartinLast NameStrezFamilySingleSon of John and Christina StrezDate of Birth27 February 1896Place of BirthLakesideDate of Death6 August 1918Place of DeathFrance Cause of DeathDied from woundsAge at Death22
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBienvilliers CemeteryEllesmere County War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingFarm HandRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details2nd May 1916Service Number21746 Embarkation20th August 1916Place of EmbarkationDunedin TransportMokoia CountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private Frederick Martin Strez. Selwyn Stories, accessed 23/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/233