HARRIGAN, Harold Ernest
| Service Numbers: | 3006, 3006B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Boorowa, NSW, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Binalong Public School; Hereford House Glebe |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 8 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Crucifix Corner Cemetery V E 24, Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Boorowa War Memorial, Hereford House Reunion Club Roll of Honour, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers KIA Honour Roll, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers Who Served Abroard Honour Roll, Rosewood Memorial Gates, Tumbarumba District Roll of Honour WW1, Tumbarumba Wolseley Park Mechanics Institute District Heroes |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 3006, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 3006, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Sydney | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement Private, 3006B, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3006B awm_unit: 19 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-08-08 |
Harold Ernest Joseph Harrigan
HAROLD ERNEST JOSEPH HARRIGAN (1898-1918) born at Monteagle, son of Joseph Francis and Eveline Kennedy Harrigan nee Clark. He enlisted on June 12th, 1916 at Tumbarumba for the duration of the war, plus four months. Private Harrigan 3006B of the 19th Battalion was KIA on August 8th, 1918 with Mustard Gas at Fromelles. His body was exhumed and was re-buried at Crucifix Corner Cemetery, VE24 Villers-Brettoneux, France. His name in on Panel 88 Australian War Memorial. The 1916 Battle of Fromelles marked Australia's introduction to the Western Front. On the night of July 19-20, 7,500 Australians attacked the German positions. By the next morning 5,533 were killed, wounded or missing.
The awe inspiring war cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux was opened by King George VI in 1938. One of the features is a tall, white tower, inside the top of which is a circular plaque with arrows pointing to the battlefields of the Western Front - but one points the way to Canberra. The walls are engraved with the names of the missing. From the high vantage point of the Cross it is possible to look over the rows of headstones, through to the peaceful scene of French fields basking in the summer sunshine. Harold was educated at Binalong Public School and Hereford House, Glebe, he was an Engineer who became a school teacher at Wagga Wagga and Tumbarumba. He embarked from Sydney on the HMAT A11 Ascanius on October 25th, 1916, after enlisting on June 12th. After arrival at Devonport on December 28th, 1916 he was sent to France on board the SS Golden Eagle on February 28th, 1917 to join the 55th Battalion from the 19th. He was treated for appendicitis while in Calais and then on March 23rd, he was injured by an exploding shell and gassed. After returning to duty on August 3rd, 1918, he was reported KIA on the 10th. His parents were sent his medals, the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914-18 Star. Name on Tumbarumba War Memorial.
[DAVIS OF GOUNYAN - ROLL OF HONOUR - BM Pittman]
Submitted 26 April 2015 by Beryl Pittman
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Mr. J. F. and Eveline Harrigan, of Prospect St., Kogarah, New South Wales.
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