Born in London, England Harry enlisted on the 22nd of July 1916 with the 8th Reinforcements, 39th Infantry Battalion, aged 26 years and 6 months.
Giving his hometown as Gloucester, New South Wales and with no blood relations in Australia, he gave his next of kin (NOK) as Mrs. Mabel West of Craven, via Barrington. While undergoing training Harry was transferred from the 8/39th on 5th of September to the 5/39th on the 6th of September.
Embarking aboard the ‘HMAT A24 Benalla’ at Sydney on the 9th of November 1916 he arrived at Devonport in the UK on the 9th of January 1917. He marched in the next day to the 10th Training Battalion, Durrington where he stayed until the 15th of March. Departing from Folkestone, he arrived at the 3rd ADBD, Rouelles on the 16th. On the 20th he left Etaples for the field where he was taken on strength with the 39th Battalion on the 25th of March.
After having endured a long winter in Flanders serving in mainly a defensive role, the 39th Battalion’s first major engagement came at Messines, Belgium between the 7th and the 9th of June 1917. The battle began badly for the 39th. Near Ploegsteert Corner, during the march to the line of departure, the battalion suffered a high number of casualties following a German gas attack which subsequently resulted the 39th only being able to muster about a third of its manpower for the attack, amounting to an assault force of only 120 men.
On the 7th of June, Harry was wounded in action with a gunshot wound and taken to the 9th Australian Field Ambulance where he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. On the 8th he was transferred to the 1st Canadian General Hospital, Etaples with a contusion to the right foot. He was transferred to the 6th Convalescent Hospital, Etaples on the 25th. On the 27th he was discharged to arrive at the 3rd ADBD on the 29th of June. Leaving Rouelles on the 2nd of August Harry rejoined his unit in the field two days later.
On the 26th of June while at the 6th Convalescent Hospital, Harry was charged with AWL from a working party parade and with drunkenness on the 18th of May. For the first charge he was awarded 7 days forfeiture of pay and on the second was given an admonishment.
Later, in October, the 39th Battalion took part in two other major attacks in that same sector, firstly at Broodseinde on the 4th and then at Passchendaele on the 12th. Whilst the first was a brilliant success, the second was a disastrous failure.
After the battle at Broodseinde, the 39th remained in the line until the 6th of October, when it was withdrawn back to Morbecque for reorganisation and rest. A couple of days later, the battalion was recommitted to the fighting and ordered to advance towards Passchendaele Ridge, attacking on the morning of the 12th of October despite heavy rain the previous evening.
While the battle continued, over the course of the next five months, the 39th Battalion rotated between the front line and rear areas, holding the line in Belgium throughout winter. Sadly, Harry was ‘Killed in Action’ in Belgium on the 22nd of November 1917, aged 27 years.
Buried at the Rossenberg Chateau Military Cemetery and extension, Vimy, France. Extension Cemetery, Row E, Grave Y. In 1930 it was necessary to exhume those buried there and have soldier’s remains reinterred at the Berks Cemetery Extension, located in the village of Ploegsteert in the Ypres Salient.
His personal effects amounted to: Disc, fountain pen, metal cigarette case, testament, photos.
