Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harry was the son of Sydney LAMBERT & Jessie W MCEWAN and was born on the 2nd of April 1890 in Somerset, England.

His parents were married in October 1876 in Wells, Somerset, England.

His father was the son of Samuel LAMBERT & Sarah Ann DAVIS and was born in 1857 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England.
His mother was the daughter of Joseph MCEWAN & Harriet BIRD and was born in 1858 in Sundridge, Kent, England.

Harry was the sixth child born into this family of 7 children.

His father was a paper maker (handmade) employed by Hodgkinson Paper Makers in Wookey Hole and in 1901 they lived in Coombe Brook Street, Wookey Hole, Somerset.

In 1904, aged 14, Harry gained and apprenticeship with Hodgkinson Paper Makers in Wookey Hole and in 1911 he was still living in the family home.
He then decided to immigrate to Australia and arrived in Pt Adelaide on board the Osterley on the 21st of February 1914.

He gained employment as a Paper maker and was living in Devonport Terrace, Wayville.

At the age of 26, Harry enlisted into the AIF on the 9th of October 1915 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 2160 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.

On the 1st of December he was posted to the 32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements and then embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Miltiades on the 7th of February 1916.
He disembarked in Suez for further training and then proceeded to France on the 17th of June.

After more than 4 and a half years overseas Harry embarked for Australia on the 23rd of September 1919 on board SS Ascanius and disembarked in Adelaide on the 4th of November.

Harry was discharged from the AIF on the 30th of December 1919.

The last few months he was in England Harry attend a Fruit Growing Course at The Nurseries, Eynsford, Kent.

Harry married Edith Annie COULLS on the 30th of October 1920 in Norwood, SA.
Edith was the daughter of William COULLS & Annie Emma DARDOY and was born on the 29th of April 1881 in Athelstone, SA.
Edith had previously married Granville Coulls LE DAN on the 30th of October 1909 in Campbelltown, SA and they had a daughter; Sombra Leonie before Granville died in 1911 in Sydney.

They made their first home in Hope Valley, where Harry was a gardener, and they welcomed their only child, Barbara Coulls on the 15th of April 1921.
Harry was very involved in the Hope Valley Sunday School.

On the 1st of June 1923 Harry secured a Soldier Settlement Block, Part Section 128, Hundred of Onkaparinga, near Uraidla, containing 52 acres, and they named their property “Glencot”.

Sombra died on the 14th of May 1928 in the Adelaide Hospital and the following year, in June 1919 they sold their property and moved to 4 Close Street, Rose Park.

Sadly, Edith died suddenly on the 19th of March 1932 in the Adelaide Hospital.

By 1939 Harry and Barbara had moved to 21 Swift Avenue, Dulwich, where Harry was a Gardener and Barbara had become a nurse.

With the outbreak of WW2, age 49, Harry enlisted into the CMF (Citizen Military Forces) on the 28th of September 1939 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number S212187 and posted to B Company, 4th Garrison Battalion.

On the 20th of February 1941 he suffered from abdominal pains and was admitted into the General Hospital at Wayville and then transferred to Kapara Convalescent Depot in Glenelg 6 days later.
He spent 3 weeks here before he was discharged back to his Battalion and was then granted 3 weeks leave.
He was then transferred to the 105th Australian General Hospital at Springbank for gardening duties.

Harry married Catherine Mary THOMSON on the 1st of May 1943 in St John’s Church, Adelaide.
Catherine was the daughter of John Samuel THOMSON & Alice RODGER and was born on the 19th of May 1905 in Knightsbridge, SA.

Harry was discharged from the CMF on the 13th of December 1946.

On the 12th of September 1956 Harry was walking in Dulwich Avenue, when he collapsed and died.
St Johns Ambulance was called, but Harry was pronounced dead at the Royal Adelaide Hospital on arrival.

Harry died from a Coronary Occlusion on the 12th of September 1956 and was buried in the Magill Cemetery.

Catherine died on the 17th of December 1990 and is buried in the Magill Cemetery; Row D, Plot 390 with her parents.

Military

WW1

At the age of 26, Harry enlisted into the AIF on the 9th of October 1915 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number 2160 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his father, of Wookley Hole, Wells, Somerset, England, as his next of kin.

On the 1st of November he was transferred to A Company and then on the 1st of December he was posted to the 32nd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.

Harry embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Miltiades on the 7th of February 1916, disembarked in Suez on the 11th of March and marched into the 8th Training Battalion in Zeitoun.

On the 1st of April Harry was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion and posted to D Company at Duntroon Plateau in training.

Reveille sounded at 2:30am on the 28th of May and they marched out to Moascar Camp for Brigade Training.
After just over 2 weeks here they entrained for Alexandria at 8pm on the 16th of June, arriving at 3am the following morning.
Two hours later, at 5am on the 17th of June they boarded HMT Transylvania and embarked from Alexandria at 9am, disembarked in Marseilles at 9am on the 23rd and entrained for Hazebrouck at 2pm.

Two days later they arrived at Steenbecque Station and marched 3 miles to Morbecque Camp. Then on the 8th of July they marched 12 miles to Estaires before marching a further 7 miles to Erquinhem the following day.
On the 10th of July they marched to Rue de Delettree and then 4 days later they marched into their billets at Fleurbaix and were engaged in carrying ammunition from the DAC (Divisional Ammunition Column) to Brigade Dumps and rotating in the front line trenches.

At 5:53pm on the 18th of July they went over the parapet in their first battle, the Battle of Fromelles.
The attack was a disastrous introduction to battle for the 32nd Battalion and they suffered 718 casualties, almost 75 per cent of their total strength, but closer to 90 per cent of its actual fighting strength.

During this Battle Harry suffered from Shell Shock and was admitted into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Estaires.
He spent 6 days here before rejoining his Battalion at Fleurbaix, but 2 days later he was suffering from sore heals and was again admitted into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance.
He was then transferred to the 5th Dressing Station before returning to his Battalion on the 4th of August.

Four weeks later he suffered from Influenza and was admitted back into the 15th Australian Field Ambulance and transferred back into the 5th Dressing Station.
Harry spent 4 weeks here before he rejoined his Battalion on the 1st of October who was in training at Montauban-de-Picardie.
Three days later they moved into the front line, into Scabbard Trench, near Gueudecourt.
The on the 31st they moved into Crest Trench, near Longueval and although Harry spent periods in the front line, the 32nd played no major offensive role for the rest of the year.

On the 2nd of November Harry suffered from Pyrexia and was admitted into the 38th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly.
Then on the 25th he was transferred to No.6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples before being transferred to No.5 Convalescent Depot.
He remained here until the 1st of December when he was discharged to the 5th ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot), where he spent Christmas 1916 before rejoining his Battalion on the 16th of January 1917 in Adelaide Camp at Montauban.

In early 1917, the German Army withdrew to the Hindenburg Line allowing the British front to be advanced and the 32nd Battalion participated in the follow-up operations.

By early march they had moved into the front line at Trones Wood and they then moved to Grevillers Camp and were engaged in road work by mid April.
Their next moved was to Darwin Camp and here on the 3rd of May Harry was granted 2 weeks leave to England and when he rejoined his Battalion they had moved to Lagnicourt.

On the 3rd of June Harry was transferred to the 5th Australian Division Reinforcement Camp Headquarters (Infantry Base Depot).
Harry remained posted to Headquarters and they constantly moved following the 5th Australian Division.
He was then granted leave to England on the 3rd of September 1918 and was promoted to Temporary Sergeant.
When the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918 they were located at Oisemont.

Their next move was to Solre-le-Chateau where they spent Christmas 1918.
On the 15th of April Harry was granted 1 weeks leave to England and then on the 13th of May he suffered from Influenza and was admitted into the 20th Casualty Clearing Station at Charleroi for 4 days.

He then gained another 2 weeks leave to England on the 10th of June and whilst there he was granted extended leave to attend a Fruit Growing Course at The Nurseries, Eynsford, Kent.

Harry completed his course on the 8th of September and embarked for Australia on the 23rd of September 1919 on board SS Ascanius and disembarked in Adelaide on the 4th of November.

Harry was discharged from the AIF on the 30th of December 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.

WW2

At the age of 49, Harry enlisted into the CMF (Citizen Military Forces) on the 28th of September 1939 in Adelaide, SA and was allotted the service number S212187 and posted to B Company, 4th Garrison Battalion.
He listed his daughter Barbara as his next of kin.

On the 20th of February 1941 he suffered from abdominal pains and was admitted into the General Hospital at Wayville and then transferred to Kapara Convalescent Depot in Glenelg 6 days later.
He spent 3 weeks here before he was discharged back to his Battalion and was then granted 3 weeks leave.

He was then transferred to the 105th Australian General Hospital at Springbank for gardening duties.
On the 18th of February he was promoted to Sergeant and 12 months later he was promoted to Warrant Officer II.

Harry was discharged from the CMF on the 13th of December 1946.
Death Notes:
On the 12th of September 1956 Harry was walking in Dulwich Avenue, when he collapsed and died.
St Johns Ambulance was called, but Harry was pronounced dead at the Royal Adelaide Hospital on arrival.

Harry died from a Coronary Occlusion on the 12th of September 1956 and was buried in the Magill Cemetery.
He is possibly buried in Row D, Plot 390 plot with Catherine’s parents.