HARDING, Bertie Joseph Samuel
| Service Number: | 6079 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ulan, New South Wales, Australia, 1898 |
| Home Town: | Mudgee, Mid-Western Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Ulan Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank clerk |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 31 August 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension Plot V, Row J, Grave No. 1. A FATHER'S PRIDE A MOTHER'S JOY A LOVING BROTHER AND FAITHFUL FRIEND |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mudgee Anglican Parish of Mudgee Great War Honour Roll, Riverstone and District War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6079, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6079, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6079, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Sydney | |
| 31 Aug 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 6079, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6079 awm_unit: 19 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-08-31 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Bertie was the son of Joseph Samuel and Annie May Harding, of Riverstone, New South Wales.
His only brother, 6172 Pte. Victor John George Harding, 24th Battalion AIF, returned to Australia during November 1919.
Bertie entered the war in France where he saw heavy fighting with his unit and he received his first wound, suffering an injury to his thumb from an accident with a grenade on 9 July 1917. Returning to the Battalion after recovering he was involved in repelling the German spring offensive when he was gassed on 18 April 1918.
When he returned to the 19th Battalion the Battle of Amiens was just starting. He was soon recommended for the Military Medal.
‘During operations on 11th August 1918 against Rainecourt, east of Amiens, this N.C.O. displayed marked courage and initiative. On reaching the objective, the left company was unable to get in touch with the battalion on its flank owing to heavy machine gun fire, holding this battalion up. With absolute fearlessness Cpl. Harding working round behind the enemy and heavily bombed them. The suddenness of this attack scattering the enemy who were shot down by a Lewis Gun in their efforts to escape. Cpl. Harding captured 2 prisoners and 2 machine guns. The fine dash and energy of this N.C.O. removed a difficult obstacle and enabled communication to be established between the two battalions without further trouble.’
The 19th Battalion was at the forefront of the Australian line during the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin on 31 August 1918 when Harding was killed in action. His platoon leader stated,
‘We were in action at Mont St. Quentin. Harding was killed outright by Machine Gun fire. The body was found the next day, when the burial took place on the spot. The Battalion cross was placed over the grave. I was at the burial. Harding was in my Platoon, "A" Company.’
Harding was later reburied at Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension. His father noted on his roll of honour form, ‘He was a well-known boy athlete in Mudgee and Forbes districts. Won several Schools Athletic Championships. Took a prominent part in Sunday School work at Forbes, also acted as lay reader in the English Church at Forbes for some months prior to enlistment.’
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