SPOTSWOOD, Harry Edward
| Service Number: | 345 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sheffield, Tasmania, Australia, June 1893 |
| Home Town: | Sheffield, Kentish, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Beaconsfield State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | 21 January 1975, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Carr Villa Memorial Park, Tasmania Ashes Collected |
| Memorials: | Derby WW1 Roll of Honour, Kentish Municipality Honour Roll Mural, Lindisfarne Officers of the 12th Battalion Pictorial Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1914: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 345, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 345, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart | |
| 1 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Aug 1916: | Promoted Sergeant, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Mar 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Nov 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, From 24th September 1917 to 24th February 1918 QM has been indefatigable in looking after the interests of the men. | |
| 29 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion |
Mentioned in correspondence
Harry is mentioned by my great uncle Capt Harold Walklate (a Lieut at the time) in a letter he wrote "from the trenches" to family on 1st February 1917.
He reports..."Spotswood is in his battalion and quartermaster, has his commission. Gandy (Lt George Gandy) says he has turned out a hard nut"
Submitted 23 November 2024 by Phil Walklate
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Fran Williams (grand daughter)
Remembering my grandfather Harry Spotswood, an original ANZAC and a wonderful person.
Another day has passed and I wish I could read his handwriting!
Shown are 5 ANZAC day speeches (of many) he gave. No dates on his early ones and the handwriting is different to his ‘flourish’ style we knew and admired!
I’ve tried reading them again, but they seem to be mainly dot points, a reference to something he would have been expounding on.
He travelled Tasmania wide having been invited to make speeches for ANZAC Day, Empire Day and Remembrance Day.
I side this box of memories are also many sermons, I can remember how pertinent he was and caring for small children by his short addresses when he was the lay minister. We loved when he was minister as he always ran a short service!
From Petah Jacqueline Ragg
Your grandfather stayed at The Kentish Clubhouse in Sheffield for months while he relieved the Council Clerk. This would have been in the 1950s. I have lovely memories of him ….a kind, gentle man to a young girl. When he left he gave me a treasured book of Australian animals, which I still possess.
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