Harold William LEMME

LEMME, Harold William

Service Number: 5424
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 6th Infantry Battalion
Born: Windsor, Vic., 1888
Home Town: Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: Brackley Preparatory School; Melbourne C of E Grammar School
Occupation: Manufacturer's Agent
Died: Killed in Action, Belgium, 19 September 1917
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, MCC Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918 - Melbourne Cricket Club, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient)
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World War 1 Service

4 Apr 1916: Involvement Private, 5424, 6th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
4 Apr 1916: Embarked Private, 5424, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne
19 Sep 1917: Involvement Corporal, 5424, 6th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 5424 awm_unit: 6th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1917-09-19

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Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts

HAROLD WILLIAM LEMME who was killed in action near Ypres on 19th September 1917 was the only child of Mr. Sweyn H. Lemme. He was born in 1888 and came to the School from Brackley Preparatory School in 1901, leaving at the end of 1903.


He was well known in tennis and cricket circles. At tennis he played three times in inter-State matches for Victoria, and was a member of the Lawn Tennis Committee of the Melbourne Cricket Club. At cricket he played for St. Kilda, and was known as their dashing batsman.

He had a serious motor cycle accident in November 1912, when for some days the doctors at the Melbourne Hospital held out no hope of recovery. It was a long time before he recovered, and even when
he enlisted (July 1915) many doctors and military men advised that this injury unfitted him for active service. It speaks much for his sense of duty that nevertheless he made up his mind to volunteer.

He joined the 6th Battalion, in which he was appointed a Corporal. In 1916 he was in camp at Perham Downs, England, for some months. He arranged several cricket matches at Andover, and became
so popular that the Mayor of Andover actually invited him to act as best man at his daughter's wedding.

He was placed in charge of 100 men from Salisbury Plain to represent Australia in London to receive the colours and shield presented by a citizen of London to the Australian Army, and while in charge of the guard at Salisbury was personally complimented by General Birdwood.

The Lieutenant in charge of the platoon in which he was N.C.O. wrote to his father: "On the night of Tuesday, 18th September, our battalion was moving up the line near Ypres.
We had to pass through several areas where the Hun was paying particular attention with his shells. The most dangerous area was passed, and we had almost reached our destination when a stray shell landed about 20 yards from my platoon and unfortunately your son got hit. The regimental doctor was along with us and he immediately went to his aid, but death was practically instantaneous.

He lies buried where he was hit, and a cross marks the grave. He was known as a good and brave soldier, and had he survived he would undoubtedly have attained commissioned rank. As a matter of fact, he had been recommended for a commission. Personally, I have lost my senior N.C.O. and a pal. Many a time I had a chat
with him and I knew his capabilities."

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