This was not just Thames' darkest month, but one day in that month was said to be New Zealand's darkest day. While earlier in the month 320 New Zealanders had lost their lives at Gravenstafel Spur, nothing prepared the men for what was to follow. On the 12th October 1917, 843 New Zealand soldiers were Killed In Action or mortally wounded at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium.
"Ever since 1917, Passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the Great War. In terms of lives lost in a single day, the failed attack on Bellevue Spur on 12 October was probably the greatest disaster in New Zealand’s history." (New Zealand History)
The twenty-two Thames men who were killed or died of wounds during October 1917, they were:
| 1/10/1917 In the Field, France; PETERS William; 26672; Rifleman 1st Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; BRENAN Errol Lyndon; 12/2920; Corporal 1st Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ELLIS Edwin George; 25992; 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GOODWIN Ernest Henry; 30785; Private 1st Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JAMIESON Ernest Harold Albert; 42112; Private 1st Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; OWENS Samuel James; 21318; Private 2nd Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; POLAND Hugh Francis; 10659; Gunner 15th Batt NZEF 1st Bde |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SCOTT Victor Richard Stanley; 10275; Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SHERLOCK Alfred Charles; 34447; Private 1st Batt AIR |
| 4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; THAYER Henry Robert; 42425; Lance Corporal 1st Batt AIR |
| 8/10/1917 in the Field, France; BROGAN Francis; 24/1602; Lance Corporal 2nd Batt AIR |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; AUTRIDGE Charles; 40271; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GRAHAM Albert Edward; 24/769; L/Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GURNETT Thomas; 15364; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; HANNA William Henry; 26611; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JORDAN Sydney Carl; 24/482; Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PATTON William Charles; 25/1198; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PEARCE William; 5/894; Private NZMG 3rd Coy |
| 12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; WHITE William Campbell; 26726; Rifleman 4th Batt 3rd NZRB |
| 20/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ALLEY Alfred William; 9872; Corporal 1st Div Art Trn AIF |
| 30/10/1917 In the Field, France; HENDERSON Wallace; 12/3675; L/Corporal 3rd Batt AIR 6th Coy |
| 30/10/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; CLEAVE John Peter; 30755; Private AIR 1st Batt |
LEST WE FORGET
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