Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

ALLORA'S ANZACS REMEMBERED: A project by the Allora Historical Society
HARRY GARTNER – AWARDED MILITARY MEDAL

The Gartner family came to Australia from Hamburg, Germany. John and Johanna Gartner and their son Albert who was born at sea first went to New South Wales. They were numbered among the first pioneer workers in this area being employed on Goomburra Station in 1862. A second son, John was born in 1868. In 1883 John and Johanna bought a farm at Berat. . The farming land was later extended and included 40 acres on the Dalrymple creek. John Gartner Jrn. took over the farm on the death of his parents.
Harry was one of ten children of Albert and his wife Mary Ann (nee Wilson).He enlisted for active service on 7th September 1915. He was 27 years old and had served a four year apprenticeship with H Stay, Plumber.
Private Harry Gartner Regiment No. 4803 was assigned to the 15th Reinforcements of the 15th Battalion A.I.F. He left Australia aboard the ‘Commonwealth” and landed at Alexandria, Egypt on 5th May 1916. After a brief stay at Alexandria in training the reinforcements then embarked for England to train at the 4th Australian Division Base Depot. They arrived at Etaples, France to join the 15th Battalion on the field on 4th October 1916.
Harry was a stretcher bearer. He was awarded a distinguished conduct medal for meritorious service on the field while attending wounded men during an attack on the famous Hindenburg Line on 11th June 1917. This news was reported in the Allora Guardian. Harry was congratulated on “What is no doubt a well merited distinction”.
He was wounded in action on 26th September 1917 – gun-shot wounds to both feet, fractures and multiple wounds. He died of wounds in Belgium on 26th September 1917 at the No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station.
On 24th October, Mary Ann was forwarded a copy of extract from Fourth Supplement No. 30135 to the London Gazette dated 15th June 1917 “relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, the late No, 4803 Private H Gartner, 15 Battalion. AWARDED THE MILITARY MEDAL ‘HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field to the under mentioned soldi No. 4803 Private Harry Gartner”.
Mary Ann was one grieving mother who received her dead son’s personal effects. She received a package including Harry’s identity disc, watch, fountain pen, testament, razor and photos.These items as well as the Military Medal and Ribbon arrived on the “Euripides” in May 1918.
8th November 1919 – Mary enquired regarding an offer to those family members who wished to put a verse or text on the tombstone for payment . She was advised that relatives could add a three line inscription provided they are willing to defray the cost of such addition. She applied for the scroll issued and send 6d stamp for the pamphlet “Graves of the Fallen”
Harry War Medals were forwarded to his mother after the Officer in Charge of Base Records had established that his father Albert had deserted the family 13 years previous and has not contributed towards their support since.
Allora Guardian – “A member of an old Allora family, he early saw the need for offering his services and being accepted he rendered stirling service, so much so, that he was awarded a military medal for his bravery in attending to the wounded under heavy fire”.

Author-Lyn Wright