Metal hat link to life in trenches

MEMORIES: John Foster with the hat his grandfather made out of a shell while in the trenches at Passchendaele. PHOTO/NZME.

The grandfather of Tauranga man John Foster was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele when he was hit by a shell fired by his own side.

John McLaren Lett, known as Jack, was one of 16 children and was born in Masterton.

He fought in the Boer War and, later he separated from his wife and two daughters and moved to Austinmer, New South Wales, where he was a gravel merchant.

Mr Lett enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in January 1916 and left Australia in the November, aged 39.

Records collected over the years by Mr Foster show that, en route to Europe aboard the SS Port Napier, Mr Lett was docked a day's pay for gambling.

He was deployed to France, where he fought in the Battle of Passchendaele and was killed in the Battle of Polygon Wood on September 27, 1917.

Mr Foster owns a metal hat his grandfather made while in the trenches at Passchendaele, made out of an 18-pounder shell casing. His grandfather used buttons, ribbon and insignia from his uniform to adorn the cap.

"Fancy cutting that out while you're in the trenches," Mr Foster said.

A telegram from a man who fought beside Mr Lett said that, about 6am that day, "we went over" and about an hour later Mr Lett was hit by a piece of shell and killed instantly. It is believed he was killed by friendly fire.

The telegram said the shell "blew off part of his head" and his body was lying about 150 yards (137 metres) into no-man's land.

Further telegrams reveal Mr Lett's final resting place was unknown. His name is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, together with more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known.

About six weeks ago, Mr Foster travelled to Albany, Australia, for a relative's wedding. While in the city, he visited the National Anzac Centre but he could not find any details of his grandfather.

A highlight was seeing the place the ships departed for Europe 100 years ago.

Mr Foster said he had always attended civic services and was a member of the Tauranga RSA.

"Anzac Day is important to remember the people who fought in it, especially if they were relatives." About 20 years ago, Mr Foster began researching his grandfather to find as much information about him as he could. He now boasts three folders of information.