Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Headley Ennis Halliday was born in 1896 in Bridgewater, South Australia. Halliday’s mother and next of kin for World War I was Matilda Halliday. He had three older brothers, all of whom served in World War I: Clarence Haddon, Edgarton Alfred and Arnold Owen Halliday. On his Attestation Paper he is described as part of the Church of Christ, single, and worked as a butcher. Additionally, Halliday’s World War I attestation paper noted that, prior to his enlistment, he had participated in the Tailem Bend Rifle Club for 2 years and the Cadets in Murray Bridge for 6 months.    

Halliday enlisted 14 February 1916 in Adelaide, South Australia, aged 19 years. According to his Attestation Papers, Halliday had dark hair, brown eyes, and a medium complexion. On 8 April 1916, Halliday embarked with the 17th Reinforcement of the 9th Light Horse Regiment from Melbourne, Victoria, on the HMAT A58 Kabinga bound for Egypt.

After training in the 3rd Training Regiment, he joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment on 1 August 1916 in Romani, Egypt, where he was immediately involved in following the Turks’ retreat back across the Sinai Desert after the Battle of Romani. In December 1916 and January 1917, the 9th Light Horse Regiment’s advance had reached the Palestine frontier, and they successfully captured the Turkish outposts of Maghdaba and Rafa.

On 27 March and 19 April 1917, as part of the Imperial Mounted Division, the 9th Light Horse Regiment was involved in the First Battle and Second Battle of Gaza. Both direct assaults to capture Gaza were unsuccessful. In August 1917 Halliday was sent to rest camp for 10 days.

From 31 October 1917, the Imperial Mounted Division was involved in the Third Battle of Gaza. Following the fall of Gaza on 7 November, the 9th participated in pursuing Turkish forces, culminating in the capture of Jerusalem on 11 December.

On 5 February 1918, Halliday was admitted to the 74th Casualty Clearing Station with a knee injury. On 15th February, he was discharged and returned to duty with the 9th Light Horse Regiment. From 30 April to 4 May, the 9th was involved in the Es Salt raid, which was a “tactical failure” (Australian War Memorial 2016).

On the 24^th of August 1918, Halliday was admitted to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, ill with a Fever of Unknown Origin. On 27 August, Halliday was moved to the 26th Casualty Clearing Station from which he was evacuated on the 28 August to hospital in Port Said. Here, he was diagnosed with Benign Tertian malaria. On the 18of September 1918, Halliday was transferred to rest camp in Port Said. On the 3 of October, Halliday was transferred to Moascar  On 30 October, Halliday returned to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, just before the Turkish surrender on 31st October.

Following a short stay in the UK, in September 1919, he embarked the HMAT Barambah bound for Australia, disembarking on 25 October in Melbourne, Australia. Finally, on 5 January 1920, Halliday was discharged, deemed medically unfit for service due to Benign Tertian malaria. 

After his service in World War I, Halliday married Clara Hilda Paech on 26 December 1920. They had two children together: William Rex Halliday and John Pender Halliday. On a form regarding his service in World War II, Halliday’s usual occupation was listed as a general storekeeper while his hometown was recorded as Victor Harbour, South Australia. Halliday enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 15 April 1942, assigned to the Volunteer Defence Corp 4th Battalion, and served until his dischargement on 15th October 1945.

Halliday’s wife Hilda  passed away on 15 October 1966, aged 70 years, and was buried in Path 13 Plot 983 of General E in Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide, on 17 October. Halliday died on 4 May 1977, aged 81 years, and was buried with Hilda on 6 May. On his tombstone there is a Freemasonry symbol, indicating that he was a Freemason.

Bibliography
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