Henry Cook STARK

STARK, Henry Cook

Service Number: 8
Enlisted: 22 August 1914, Toowoomba, Queensland
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 9th Infantry Battalion
Born: Toowoomba, Queensland, 21 October 1894
Home Town: Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland
Schooling: North Toowoomba State School & Toowoomba Grammar School
Occupation: School Teacher
Died: Died of wounds (received at Gallipoli landing), Egypt, 22 May 1915, aged 20 years
Cemetery: Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery
M 133, Chatby Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 Honour Board, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 In Memoriam Honour Board, Toowoomba No.36 Prosperity Tent Independent Order of Rechabites, Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW1, Toowoomba War Memorial (Mothers' Memorial)
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World War 1 Service

22 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8, 9th Infantry Battalion, Toowoomba, Queensland
24 Sep 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 8, 9th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Omrah embarkation_ship_number: A5 public_note: ''
24 Sep 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 8, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Omrah, Brisbane
25 Apr 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 8, 9th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli

Help us honour Henry Cook Stark's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of the late John and Phoebe Stark.

"Henry Cook Stark, of Toowoomba, Qld, enlisted on 24 August 1914 as a Private in the 9th Battalion with the regimental number 8. Pte Stark embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Omrah on 24 September 1914. He died of wounds on 22 May 1915, after being wounded at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, aged 20. He was one of four brothers who enlisted and served in the First World War, his brother 387 Sergeant (Sgt) James Leslie Stark was also killed." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

Word has been received that Private H.C. Stark, who as wounded at the Darndanelles, has since died. He was 21 years of age, a fine stamp of an Australian, and left a position as State School teacher at Range View, near Toowoomba to join the first contingent.  His father and mother predeceased him, but he leaves a large circle of relatives in Toowoomba and the Lockyer district.  He was a cousin of mrs. W.C. Abbott, Atherton.

LATE PRIVATE H.C. STARK

CEREMONY AT WILSONTON

Among the first of our Toowoomba boys to volunteer for the front was Mr. Harry C. Stark, of the Wilsonton State School.  Unfortunately Mr. Stark was wounded during the fierce fighting which followed the first landing of the Australians on Gallipoli Peninsurla, and he succumbed to his wounds three weeks afterwards.  His former pupils and their teachers thought it would be a suitable memento to their late comrade to place a framed photograph of him upon the school wall.  Accordingly, the photograph was prepared, and on Friday afternoon last, the Hon. J Tolmie visited theh school at the invitation of the Head Teacher and his staff, for the purpose of placing the photograph.

In doing so , Mr. Tolmie said his duty was a sad one, because it indicated the passing of a life of much promise, a life that was laid down at the call of duty for the sake of others.  On the other hand he was glad because the fact of placing the photograph was a kindly act on the part of the children, and showed that they remembered their late teacher with pleasure and respect.  Mr. Tolmie made refernece also to the large amount of freedom enjoyded in every country ruled by the British crownm, and urged the children to be loyal to duty as their late teacher had been.

Rev. C. Tunstall in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Tomie reminded the children that duty always meant self sacrifice.

The Head Teacher also thanked Mr. Tolmie for his kindness in attending, and addressing the children.

Mr. Tolmie, having replied, the children sand the National Anthem and the proceeding terminated.

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