Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

HARRY ERROL SIBLEY

Harry Errol Sibley was born on the 30th September 1892 in Medindie, South Australia to Harry Evan Sibley and Helen Jane Sibley.  Before enlisting in the war he was unmarried and had no children.  He lived in Norwood, South Australia and worked as an orchardist. 

Although they are no pictures of Harry, according to the National Archives of Australia, when Harry enlisted he stated he had a fair complexion, with blue eyes and light brown hair.  He had a height of approximately 5*11 and a weight of approximately 68.5 kg.  He also stated that his religion was the Church of England. 

When he enlisted he was 22 and and half years old.  He enlisted in the war on the 12th of May 1915 in Keswick Australia and was given the service number 45.  This was his first time to train and serve in military forces.  Harry was assigned to the Base Infantry 27th Battalion. He then embarked for active service overseas on the 28th of June 1915 from Melbourne on board the HMAT A35 Berrima and joined his unit on the 1st of October 1915.    

On March 19th, 1916 troops reached Marseilles in the South of France.  Harry later joined these troops on June 17th 1916 until he was transferred to B.M.T.D Rouen where he was working with the missiles.  Then he joined the 1st Aust.Div.Supp.Col until he transferred to 1st Anz.T.Supp.Col three days later.  Between the 21st of May and the 6th of June 1917, Harry was granted leave to the UK.  He then was transferred to three other units, 5th D.S.C, 5th A.D.M.T.C and then 1st A.S.B.A.C., before returning to the UK on leave during July 26th 1918 to August 9th 1918.  On the 23rd of August 1918, Harry was admitted to the hospital suffering with scabies and was discharged from the hospital 4 days later.  He finally re-joined his unit on the 27th of August 1918 until he embarked for return. 

Harry returned to Australia on the 8th of January 1919 and disembarked on the 25th of February 1919.  He had a total service time of 4 years and 39 days, 3 years and 243 days of this he spent fighting abroad.  He received three awards from his time at war.  These awards include a Victory Medal, British War Medal and a 1914/15-Star Medal.  All of these medals were awarded to the soldiers who fought in different periods of time and since Harry fought for the majority of the war, he received all three.  The Victory Medal was awarded to those who fought between the 5th of August 1914 and 11 November 1918 and given as celebration for the Allied Forces beating the Central Powers.  The British War Medal was created due to the conclusion of the war and was given to soldiers who participated in war during 5th of August 1914 and 11 November 1918.  Finally, the 1914/15-Star Medal was received if soldiers served at war during the 5th August 1914 and 31 December 1915. 

After the war, on the 8th of July 1920, he married Muriel Isabel Sibley and together they had 2 children.  He died on the 20th of September 1928 at the age of 35 and is buried at the Payneham Cemetery with his wife, who died at the age of 42 on the 25th July 1948.  

From his time at war, Harry received three medals; a Victory Medal, British War Medal and a 1914/15-Star Medal.  Receiving these medals establishes that Harry showed ANZAC spirit during his time at war.  ANZAC spirit is important as it allows us to remember the brave soldiers who died during the war.  ANZAC stands for a soldier in the “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps”.  ANZAC spirit was created as when soldiers went to war, their true personalities and characteristics were demonstrated.  The five main qualities associated with Australian soldiers were their intelligence, loyalty, courage, equality (everyone deserves the same quantity of respect) and their ability to have a good sense of humour and remain cheerful.  ANZAC spirit means, when facing adversity, to have courage and intelligence and to keep going even when things get tough.  The ANZAC spirit is about being a good person even when faced with difficult circumstances. 

Bibliography

-        Harry Errol SIBLEY n.d., accessed March 2018, https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/171619

-        Australian Commonwealth Military Forces 2016, accessed March 2018, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8082899&S=1

-        Harry Errol Sibley n.d., accessed March 2018, https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=274381

-        Motor Transport Driver Harry Errol Sibley n.d., accessed March 2018, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10536899

-        Grave Information Of Harry Errol Sibley 2018, accessed March 2018, https://billiongraves.com/grave/Harry-Errol-SIBLEY/20957258?referrer=myheritage

-        1914-1915 Star n.d., accessed March 2018, http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Imperial/WWI/1914-15-Star.asp

-        British War Medal n.d., accessed March 2018, http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Imperial/WWI/British-War-Medal-1914-20.asp

-        Victory Medal n.d., accessed March 2018, http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Imperial/WWI/Victory-Medal.asp

-        Muriel Sibley n.d., accessed March 2018,  https://www.myheritage.com/names/muriel_sibley

-        Australian Battlefields of World War 1 - France 2017, accessed March 2018, http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1916/