Frank John MCHARDY

Frank John MCHARDY Update Details

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MCHARDY, Frank John

Service Numbers:	2194, 2194A
Enlisted:	3 July 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	5th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Invermoriston, Inverness Shire, Scotland, 22 December 1888
Home Town:	Moonee Ponds, Moonee Valley, Victoria
Schooling:	Invermoriston, Scotland
Occupation:	Cabinetmaker
Died:	Killed in Action, France, 25 July 1916, aged 27 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)

World War 1 Service

3 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2194, 5th Infantry Battalion
15 Sep 1915:	Involvement Private, 2194, 5th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Makarini embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
15 Sep 1915:	Embarked Private, 2194, 5th Infantry Battalion, SS Makarini, Melbourne
25 Jul 1916:	Involvement Private, 2194A, 5th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2194A awm_unit: 5 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-25

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Born in Scotland, Frank McHardy’s mother died when he was four years old. His father remarried soon after. Frank came to Australia in 1909 when he was 20 years of age. He was 26 years of age when he enlisted, on the same day as his 19-year-old half brother William Alexander McHardy in the 5th Battalion.

They were killed in action on the same day at Pozieres. The deadly artillery bombardments from both sides on the 5th Battalion position killed them both. 124 men from the 5th Battalion were killed outright on this day. A witness stated in both of their Red Cross files, ‘at about 3.00 a.m. on the 25 July an attack was made by the 5th Battalion but the infantry attacked slightly too soon, and about 100 men reached the enemy trench before the artillery had lifted its fire, and were practically annihilated. McHardy was amongst these and the informant does not think there is the slightest chance for him. The Battalion was relieved that night before any of the dead had been brought in. The two brothers were always together.’

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