Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Australian Dictionary of Biography
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/piper-harold-bayard-11430
adb.anu.edu.au
Biography - Harold Bayard Piper by P. A. Selth

Additional Biography

Early Life

Harold Bayard (Bay) Piper was born at North Walkerville, SA on the 26th of August 1894 to Arthur William Piper and Edna Elizabeth Counter.

Bay’s father was a lawyer later a King’s Council and Justice of the South Australian Supreme Court. In 1910 he was a candidate for the Seat of Torrens in the State Parliament.

Schooling

Bay attended Prince Alfred College from 1902 when he was aged 8 years. He passed his Junior Examinations in 1907, Senior Examinations in 1909 and Higher Public Examinations in 1910. While at PAC, Bay was with the Cadets and the Senior Cadets.

Adelaide University

Bay commenced studying law at Adelaide University in 1911. He was awarded the Stow Prize in 1913 and graduated LLB in 1914. He was admitted to the bar on the 8th of June 1915.

University Sport

Rowing
Bay was a member of the Adelaide University Boat Club.

Football
Bay played football for the Adelaide University B Grade in the Adelaide and Suburban Association in 1914 and 1915, winning a Premiership with the team in 1914. He also played some games in the A Grade in the 1915 season.

World War I

On the 21st of June 1915, Bay enlisted (SN 7733) as a Private. He was just over 21 years old and was an Articled Law Clerk (soon to be admitted to the bar). His Mother was listed as his next-of-kin. The family were living at Wattle Street, Fullarton, SA. Bay was described as at 5’ 7½“, 184 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. Bay was a member of the Citizen Forces at the time of his enlistment.

Bay embarked from Melbourne on the H.M.A.T. R.M.S. Orontes on 24th of November 1915 and served in with the Western Frontier Force in Egypt. He served in the 4th Coy A.S.C. and then the 4th Div Train. He marched from Polygon Camp Abyssinia, arriving at Tel-el-Kebir on the 27th of April 1916. On the 18th of May 1916 Bay, transferred to the Supply Section. On 4th of October 1916, Bay was taken on strength at the Australian General Base Depot at Estaples, in northern France.

In December 1916, The University of Adelaide’s Registrar, Mr. Chas. R. Hodge, was endeavouring to identify students who had enlisted to create a WW1 Roll of Honour. In most cases he had to contact parents.

Bay’s father replied a few days after receiving the notice from the Registrar with details of his son’s service.

From the 22nd of February 1917, Bay served with the 17th Australian Depot Units of Supply. He also served at the 5th Dv 1 Artillery Headquarters and the 14th Field Artillery Battery as a Gunner. In April 1918, Bay was ill with a fever and was hospitalised.

Bay returned to England on the 4th of February 1919 and left from Liverpool, England on the 25th of February 1919 onboard the Balmoral Castle arriving in Australia on 11th of April 1919 for demobilisation.

On the 7th of June 1922, Bay married Dorothy Edna Stow Smith the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Quinton Stow Smith and their son David Bayard Piper was born on the 24th of April 1923.

The family holidayed at Mt Breckan, Victor Harbor in February 1924 and Bay took up golf, playing at the Royal Adelaide Club. Bay competed in the AIF Cup in 1935.
In November 1927 Bay was elected President of the PAC Old Collegians’ Association, a position once held by his father Mr Justice Piper. Bay presided over the PAC Old Collegians’ Association during the college’s golden jubilee year.

In February 1932, Bay was included in a list of lawyers who had been seen surfing in their summer holidays.

In 1935, Bay donated the H.B. Piper prize, for office practice and routine, which was won by Mr Robert F. Stokes, a law student at the University of Adelaide and a member of the Adelaide University Law Student’s Society.

In January 1936 Bay was appointed Chairman of a Royal Commission into the question of using lotteries to fund hospitals.

Sadly’ Bay’s father, Justice Arthur William Piper, died in February 1936.

In 1937, Bay was appointed as an acting lecturer in Law of Contracts at thew University of Adelaide. The following year he was offered a three-year appointment lecturing in Mercantile Law, however he did not take up the position as other higher duties ensued.

In August 1937, Bay had to appear in court on his own behalf as he was charged by the police for having a glaring headlight.

Bay was appointed Chairman to the Royal Commission on Betting in 1937.

In January 1938 Bay was appointed the new Judge of the Federal Arbitration Court. To undertake this new role, Bay and his wife moved to Melbourne. They had a flat at Cliveden Mansions, on St Kilda Road and in February 1938 they moved to Sir G.D. Kelly’s maisonette at 59 Marne Street, Toorak for six months. Bay and Dorothy had owned a house at 309 Kensington Road, Kensington Park, which they sold after moving to Melbourne.

In October 1938, Bay was one of the Judges who determined that Betting Shops could continue under the 1933 Betting Act.

Bay continued to play golf in Melbourne and had membership at the Flinders Club. In August 1941 Bay was appointed the new Chief Judge and head of the Arbitration Court. He was the youngest person to hold the position.

In 1944 Bay was appointed as the fourth member of the Gowrie scholarship trust. Bay and Edna’s son David became engaged to Beverley Merle Richards, the daughter of Mr & Mrs Walter Richards of Royston, Alma Road, East St Kilda, Vic in December 1946. At this time Bay and Edna were living at Montalto Avenue, Toorak.

Unfortunately, due to ill health, Bay stepped down from his position as Chief Judge. Bay was then appointed to a Judicial Committee to enquire into increasing the salaries of Victorian State parliamentarians in April 1948.

In May 1948 Bay and Edna’s son David married Beverley Richards and in July 1949 the couple had a daughter.

From September 1948 to August 1949, Bay was invited to be a director of Broken Hill Proprietary Ltd.

Death

Tragically, on the 10th May 1953, at his residence at Montalto Avenue, Toorak, Bay passed away, aged 59, leaving his widow, Edna and son David. After a memorial service at St John’s Toorak, Bay was cremated at the Spring Vale Crematorium. He left an estate valued at £6,508.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.








Career & Family Life
Bay commenced his career as a barrister and solicitor on his return to Australia. In October 1919, on the retirement of W.A. Norman, Bay was admitted as a member of the firm Bakewell, Stow & Piper, joining his father in that firm. In December 1919, Bay stood for election for the General Committee of the Returned Servicemen’s Association and was elected for the Metropolitan District.