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Son of John Henry and Elizabeth TEAGUE

Text on smaller stone that was put on Captain Teague's grave by his fellow servicemen - "In loving memory of the late Captain H.O.Teague killed in action on 14 February 1917 as a token of love and admiration from the N.C.O.s and men of the 2nd Australian field Ambulance."

THE LATE DR. HAROLD TEAGUE.
The death while on active service of Dr. Harold Teague, late medical officer for the Municipality of Victoria Park, and president of the W.A. branch of the British Medical Association, has occasioned deep regret throughout the coastal area. Deceased came to this State over 14 years ago as assistant to Dr. Trethowan, and after occupying that post with ability for some time, he took up residence at Victoria Park, where he acquired a large practtice, and endeared himself to every resident of that locality. He was prominent in South Perth and Victoria Park circles as a tennis player and bowler, and his keen appreciation of all sport made him invaluable member to any sporting body. Dr. Teague was a native of Bendigo and was 38 years of age. He was one of the honorary surgeons to the W.A. Turf Club. Dr. Teague had been connected with the A.M.C. for some time, and on the outbreak of was was appointed honorary captain and attached to the No. 3 Australian General Hospital. He was afterwards associated with the famous 11th Battalion.

From François Berthout

Captain Harold Oscar Teague, Medical Officer 
2nd Australian Field Ambulance
11th Australian Infantry Battalion,
3rd Brigade, 1st Australian Division
 
Today on the fields of the Somme that the sun puts in its light, echoes of the past are heard like a message from thousands of young men walking through the poppies where they fought and fell alongside their comrades and their brothers in arms who, in the silence of these ancient battlefields and peaceful cemeteries ask us to watch over them so that their lives and their sacrifices are never forgotten. Young and brave they were and young they will be forever between the rows of their white graves where they rest united and in peace on these sacred lands of northern France where, under fire, under bullets and shells, they remained strong in the trenches in which they sacrificed their youth, their innocence and in the mud reddened with the blood of their brothers and fathers, charging with courage in the face of machine guns, gave their today and their lives so that we could have a tomorrow that I would give to honor the memory of these men, of these heroes to bring them back to life, so that they could live in peace knowing that they are remembered as they wished it deep in their hearts and will forever be my boys of the Somme over whom I will always watch with love and the deepest respect to express my gratitude to them and the gratitude of my country for which they gave so much.

Today, it is with the utmost respect and deepest gratitude that I would like to honor the memory of one of these men, one of my boys of the Somme who, for Australia and France, for peace, gave his life.I would like to pay a very respectful tribute to Captain Harold Oscar Teague who fought bravely as a Medical Officer in the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance of the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Australian Division, and who was killed in action 106 years ago, on February 14, 1917 at the age of 39 on the Somme front.

Harold Oscar Teague was born on the 15 October 1877 in Bendigo, Victoria,Australia. His father was John Henry Teague a commercial agent, and his mother’s name was Elizabeth (nee Pascoe). Harold was one of six children, having four sisters and a brother, Frank Wilfred who died at one month of age in 1880. Harold never married.

Harold attended Brighton Grammar School between 1888 and 1894. He played many school sports and other activities, including playing in the school’s first football team in 1893.

Graduating from Brighton Grammar School in 1894, Harold enrolled in Medicine at Melbourne University. In 1901 he graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery. According to his obituary in the Medical Journal of Australia. Harold, upon completing his studies in Melbourne, undertook a year’s residency at Auckland Hospital, New Zealand. Returning to Australia, Harold moved to Western Australia where he worked with Dr W. Trethowan. In 1907 Harold opened his own practice in Victoria Park, Western Australia. His obituary states that "he soon gained the confidence of a large clientele. As his practice grew, all the residents of Victoria Park learned to esteem the man for his unselfishness, his energy and inherent honesty of purpose and for his skill in dealing with his patients. It is said of him that his almost brusque truthfulness covered one of the kindliest and most charitable dispositions imaginable. His popularity was not confined to his patients; his colleagues were proud of him, and in social life he was a general favourite. He was a keen tennis player and a good all-round sportsman." Harold was a well-known and loved member of the South Perth and Victoria Park tennis and lawn bowls circuits, he was also one of the honorary surgeons to the Western Australian Turf Club.

Harold took an active role in the affairs of the Western Australian branch of the British Medical Association, having served on its council for many years, he was President in 1915-1916.

Harold’s medical practice from 1910 until his death in 1917 was located at 114 Albany Road (now Highway), Victoria Park. His parents and his sister, Laura Claris Teague also lived in Victoria Park.

On May 1,1915 Dr Harold Oscar Teague was gazetted as a Captain in the Australian Army Medical Corps, Australian Imperial Force, and embarked with his unit from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on June 25, 1915 and sailed for Egypt.
Early in December 1915, Harold arrived in Egypt and served with the No. 1 Australian General Hospital, worked at the Luna Park General Hospital in Cairo, which he organized,then on January 12, 1916 he served in the Field Ambulance of the 2nd Australian Division in Serapeum. Two months later, on March 23, 1916, he proceeded to join the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) with his unit from Alexandria, on board "Briton" and proceeded overseas for France.
On March 30, 1916, after a short voyage on the Mediterranean Sea, Harold arrived in France and was disembarked in Marseilles and eight months later, on November 26, 1916, he was attached to the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion and appointed Medical Officer on November 28 in Coisy ,Somme,where he relieved Major Sawers.

On December 2, 1916, Harold and the 11th Battalion were sent to Dernancourt then marched through Fricourt, Albert, Mametz, and arrived at Carlton Camp located at Bazentin-Le-Grand on December 7 where they remained until December 21 and where Harold served with exceptional dedication and the next day, entered the front line trenches at Flers then in the Bulls Road sector, were relieved by the 50th Australian Infantry Battalion on January 8, 1917 and marched for Coolgardie Camp at Meaulte on January 9.
On January 28, 1917, Harold and the 11th Battalion were sent to Bazentin-Le-Petit where unfortunately, less than a month later, on February 14, 1917, he met his fate.

On the night of February 14,1917,Captain Harold Teague was in the front line with his battalion near the village of Bazentin-le-Petit. Captain Teague was frequently in the front line at his own request. He was in company with other commanders and returning to the rear of the lines when the enemy started to shell 11th Battalion positions. A shell exploded nearby killing Captain Harold Teague.

Today, Captain Harold Oscar Teague rests in peace alongside his friends, comrades and brothers in arms at Bazentin-Le-Petit Military Cemetery, Somme.
The loss of Harold was felt far and wide. The West Australian, of 9 May 1917 reports of a special stone erected by the men under his command: "The Late Dr. Teague. A private letter received by a lady in Perth from her son in France dated February 17,1917 contains the following reference to the late Dr. Teague, of Victoria Park:"Just a line to let you know that Captain Teague was killed in action on February 14, one of the worst blows we have had, and the boys were very much cut up about it. He was the "whitest" man I have met in the army, and you will hear the same from every unit he came in contact with. We have erected a very nice stone over his grave." This stone still stands next to Harold’s official Commonwealth War Grave headstone. The special stone placed by his men reads:
"In loving memory of the late Captain H. O. Teague killed in action on 14 February 1917 as a token of love and admiration from the N.C.O.s and men of the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance."

On March 4, 1917 Archbishop Riley of Perth conducted a memorial service for Captain Teague in the Church of the Transfiguration (now called St Peter’s Anglican Church), Victoria Park. Harold’s name appears on St Peter’s Honour Roll and on an individual wooden memorial dedicated to his life and service.

At a special Anzac celebration at the Victoria Park Town Hall in 1917, Archbishop Riley unveiled a memorial portrait of Dr (Captain) Teague, Australian Army Medical Corps,who had also served as the Medical Officer of the Municipality of Victoria Park. There was a musical program as part of this celebration of Harold’s life, with the Mayor, Charles Harper as master of ceremonies. This memorial portrait still hangs in the function room of the Town of Victoria Park’s Administration Building at 99 Shepperton Road, Victoria Park.

In 1918 some street names were changed to honour Perth’s war heroes, some street names in Victoria Park were also changed, including Walton Road that became Teague Street in honour of Captain (Dr) Harold Oscar Teague.

"Death, the inscrutable, had robbed, the medical profession of integrity and uprightness", the death of Harold Oscar Teague also left a big hole in the lives of those his touched and in the Perth community.

On February 27, 1917, the obituary of Captain Harold Oscar Teague was published in the Daily News as follows:
"The Late Dr Harold Teague
The death while on active service of Dr. Harold Teague, late medical officer for the Municipality of Victoria Park, and president of the W.A. branch of the British Medical Association, has occasioned deep regret throughout the coastal area. Deceased came to this State over 14 years ago as assistant to Dr. Trethowan, and after occupying that post with ability for some time, he took up residence at Victoria Park, where he acquired a large practtice, and endeared himself to every resident of that locality. He was prominent in South Perth and Victoria Park circles as a tennis player and bowler, and his keen appreciation of all sport made him invaluable member to any sporting body. Dr. Teague was a native of Bendigo and was 38 years of age. He was one of the honorary surgeons to the W.A. Turf Club. Dr. Teague had been connected with the A.M.C. for some time, and on the outbreak of was was appointed honorary captain and attached to the No. 3 Australian General Hospital. He was afterwards associated with the famous 11th Battalion."

The news of Harold’s death was soon spread around and two significant figures, felt that the service of Harold should be known. Sir Douglas Haig was the first of these two men and independently, he mentioned Harold in one of his despatches (9.4.17) named ‘Gallant and Distinguished services’. The second man was Major J.J Nicholas who wrote, "The division has lost the service of one of its best medical officers. Teague knew no fear." Both men were outstanding characters and both very sorrowful at the loss of Harold.

Harold, Sir, you who fought and served heroically alongside your brothers in arms in the trenches of the Great War, on the battlefields of the Somme, in hospitals and ambulances, today it is from the bottom of my heart, with respect and admiration that I would like to express my gratitude to you for all that you have done for us and for my country which will be forever grateful to you.Brave among the bravest, it is tirelessly, with care and determination that you have done your duty without regard for your own life to save the lives of young men who, on the battlefields and in the trenches, suffered terribly under the bullets and shells, and who, in blood and pain, found in your hands the comfort and the care they needed so much after so much horror that they lived in courageous attacks from which they returned terribly wounded but found in your kindness, the sweetness and the peace they were looking for and found in you an admirable man of courage and loyalty who was always present for each of them, more than a man, they saw a father to whom they could entrust their sufferings and who did the impossible to heal and save all those who came to him.Deeply admired, loved and respected by men of all ranks who had the honor to serve with you in the darkest hours of history, you were for many an example of courage and compassion which made his country proud, and showed in France the determination, the courage, the perseverance, the solidarity and the strength of the whole Australian nation which fought with heroism in the Somme where so many of its sons rest in peace under the rows of their white graves standing where so many blood was shed for the peace and freedom for which so many of these young men fought and fell and who today, more than ever, deserve all our love and our benevolence, our respect and our love for all that they gave on these sacred soils of France which will always be under the light of the rising sun spreading its rays through the fields of silent and peaceful poppies which were, more than a hundred years ago, fields of death, mud and of steel that were blackened by the flames of a world gone mad in which millions of men gave their lives so that we might live as Captain Harold Oscar Teague did. Under the artillery fire and the lugubrious howls of the shells, he did his duty with exceptional courage and always went to volunteer to go into the trenches to help, protect and save thousands of young boys of whom he was the light in their darkness.He was fearless and always showed exceptional coolness, a smile on his face until his last breath of life that he gave so that others could live and get out of this hell that was the great war where so many men showed the best of humanity and it is with this same dedication, tirelessly that I will always watch over these exceptional men to keep alive and protect their memory, to bring them back to life so that they will never be forgotten,so that their names, their faces live forever.Thank you so much Harold,for everything. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him,we will remember them.

I would like to thank very warmly and very respectfully the Victoria Park Dictionary Of Biography without which I would never have been able to write this tribute.