Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harry was born on 23 Dec 1894 at Tumby Bay to Charles Paul and Ann Paul (nee Lakin). He was the youngest of 10 children in the family. His father was a “gun” shearer, often blade shearing over 150 sheep a day; later he became a farmer near Tumby on Sect 53, Hd of Hutchison.

Harry started his schooling at the Mine Hill School before transferring to Tumby Bay School, leaving at the age of 14 to assist on his father’s farm and later to work as a Station Hand on Mortlock’s properties at Coffin Bay and Tumby Bay until his enlistment in the Army on 7 Jul 1915; at this time he recorded his occupation as station hand and his address as Tumby Bay

After processing at Mitcham he was sent to Base Light Horse for training before being posted to 9th Reinforcements/9th Light Horse Regiment (9th  L H Regt) on 1 Sep 1915. Two weeks later he embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT “Star of England” for the Middle East, disembarking at Alexandria on 27 Dec 1915

The 9th L H Regt was raised in Adelaide and trained in Melbourne between Oct 1914 and Feb 1915. It sailed from Melbourne on 11 Feb 1915 aboard HMAT “Karoo” bound for the Middle East. It saw action in Gallipoli, returning to Alexandria in Dec 1915. It was at this stage that Harry joined the unit; a very confusing time after the withdrawal from Gallipoli and the reorganisation of the AIF.  

After a further period of training he marched out to Serapeum on 27 Feb 1916, with his unit. The unit was involved in the defence of the Suez Canal in Mar 1916 to halt a Turkish drive across the Sinai and then the advance following the Turks back across the desert. By Dec 1916 they had reached the border of Palestine and the Regt was involved in action to secure the outposts of Maghdaba on 23 Dec 1916 and Rafa on 9 Jan 1917, both of which were taken at bayonet point. The next strong hold to be encountered was Gaza; two abortive attempts to capture Gaza were undertaken on 27 Mar 1917 and 19 Apr 1917.

On 18 Jul 1917 he marched out to a rest camp at Marakeb. A week later, whilst at the rest camp, he reported sick and was admitted to 5th Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. A week later he returned to his unit.

At the end of Oct 1917 a wide outflanking action was undertaken via Beersheba which led to the fall of Gaza on 7 Nov 1917. With the fall of Gaza the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 9th participated in the pursuit that followed and led to the capture of Jerusalem in Dec 1917.

The focus of operations then moved to the Jordan Valley. Early 1918 saw the Regt arriving at the River Jordan. On 30 Apr 1918 the Regt was involved in the battle of As Salt (Syria): it was here that they were surrounded by a large Turkish force and were lucky to be able to withdraw back to the Jordan Valley.

Approximately a year later Harry was promoted to Lance Corporal, but only retained the rank for a month; he relinquished it at his own request. This was not uncommon amongst the Light Horsemen!

On 1 Aug 1918 he again marched out to rest camp, this time at Port Said, where he remained for a fortnight.

He did not have a very good history at rest camps, as a few weeks after returning from Port Said he again reported sick, this time to 3rd Field Ambulance; a day later he was admitted to 76 Casualty Clearing Station and then forwarded to 44 Stationary Hospital before being evacuated to 14th Army General Hospital at Port Said with Influenza. He was released from hospital on 29 Oct 1918 to his unit rear details at Moascar, before re-joining his unit at Abbassia.

After the Turks surrendered on 31 Oct 1918, the Regt was waiting to embark back to Australia when it was sent to Tripoli in Dec 1918 where it undertook a “police action” guarding the railway line because of civil unrest in Egypt. Harry was involved in these actions, but unfortunately he again became ill and was sent to 14th Army General Hospital at Abbassia suffering from Malaria. A few weeks later he was embarked aboard the HT “Warwickshire” for return to Australia. He disembarked at Adelaide in early Jul 1919 and was discharged from the Army on 18 Jul 1919.

After discharge Harry returned to Tumby Bay and undertook farm work in both the Tumby and Cummins areas. He did not marry.

Harry died on 21 Jun 1957 at Cummins at the age of 63 years. He is buried in the Tumby Bay Cemetery

Medals and Decorations                                                                                

1914-15 Star                                                                                                               

British War Medal                                                                                        

Victory Medal