Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harold Mervyn ROSE was born in 1895 in Perth, Western Australia, the third of six sons born to Amy Edith (nee STONE) and James ROSE (who later served as a Major, and WA fourth contingent commander, in the 2nd Boer War).

A 19 year old single clerk at the time, Harold enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia, on 19th November 1914.  Allocated the regimental number 744 and the rank of Private, Harold completed his recruit training at Blackboy Hill, after which he was assigned as a Trooper with the 10th Light Horse Regiment.  On 19th February 1915, Harold embarked with his Unit in Fremantle aboard HMAT Itonus, for active service overseas.

After completion of further training in Egypt, the 10th Light Horse Regiment embarked at Alexandria on 16th May 1915 for Gallipoli, where they were deployed in a dismounted role.  For the first two months they were utilised in a primarily defensive role only.  On 9th July, Harold was evacuated to St. Andrew's Hospital in Malta with tympanitis (inflammation of the tympanic membrane of the ear), and subsequently to the Lewisham Military Hospital in London, England.   Following his discharge from hospital, Harold proceeded to the Monte Video Camp in Weymouth, England, to recuperate.  After being certified fit, Harold embarked on 3rd June 1916 for the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment in Egypt, before rejoining his Unit as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

On 9th September 1916, Harold was detached to the Imperial Camel Corps (later Brigade), taken on strength with the 3rd (Australian) Battalion at Abbassia, Egypt.  They fought in the Battle of Magdhaba on 23rd December, and the Battle of Rafa on 9th January, which resecured the Sinai Peninsula, causing the Ottomans to push back into Palestine.

Harold returned to the 10th Light Horse Regiment on 17th August 1917, who were now part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.  They were involved in the Battle of Beersheba on 31st October, holding an outpost North of the town overnight, during which they killed 50 Ottoman soldiers.

From 16th December 1917 following the allied capture and occupation of Palestine, Harold was again detached, still as part of the EEF, with Headquarters of the 5th Mounted Brigade (possibly in a clerical role, given his civilian occupation).  For the next 12 months, he was transferred between there and HQ Australian Mounted Division, with a two month period in hospital in Alexandria, followed by a convalescent depot (for an unspecified illness), from October 1918.

On 20th March 1919, Harold was again taken on strength with the 10th Light Horse Regiment, in Moascar.  On 30th May, he was admitted sick to the 26th Stationary Hospital in Ismailia, then transferred to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Abbassia two days later. 

Harold embarked in Suez aboard HMAT Dunluce Castle on 17th July 1919, arriving in Fremantle on 17th August.  He was subsequently discharged medically unfit on 12th December 1919 in the 5th Military District, Perth.  For his service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and later received the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion, in 1967.

In 1921, Harold married Fanny KNIGHT in Perth, and they had a son, Mervyn James.  Harold ran a general grocery store in Kelmscott, Western Australia, from around 1937 until at least the late 1940s.  He died in Mandurah, Western Australia, on 16th February 1970, aged 74.  His ashes were scattered in the garden of Karrakatta Cemetery.

Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Australian War Memorial (10th LHR Unit War Diaries), Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages WA, Collections WA, and Find A Grave website.

* Female Relative's Badge number 14105 (per photos), issued to Mrs Amy Edith ROSE, is recorded in Register of Issues book number 144, on page 11.