GRIFFITHS, Harold Robert
| Service Number: | 3298 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 February 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Newtown, New South Wales, Australia, 30 January 1899 |
| Home Town: | St Peters (NSW), Inner West Council, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Laurieton, New South Wales, Australia, 5 November 1994, aged 95 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Feb 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3298, 1st Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 May 1917: | Involvement Private, 3298, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 9 May 1917: | Embarked Private, 3298, 1st Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Harold Robert Griffiths was born on the 30th of January 1899 as a Christian in Newtown. (1) From 1912-1914, Griffiths attended Sydney Technical High School, (2). His results during his first year were slightly worse than the rest of peers ranked 30th overall in his class. (3) In his second year he scored 298 and ranked 7th in his class (4) which was seen as a major improvement compared to the year before. He received a general merit prize and an intermediate certificate (5) on Speech Day in 1913 (6). In his final year at Tech he received a prize for doing well in algebra, geometry, drawing and geography. (7)
He worked a clerk until 19th of February 1917 (9), when he enlisted into AIF After being accepted, he became a part of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, 27th reinforcement, where they embarked on 9th May 1917, (10) this indicated one of the major operations Griffiths was apart of was the Es Salt Raids, which was the second raid made by the AIF, where the aim was to secure a launching point for operations against the key railway junction at Deraa. The raid did end up failing however it served its role. (11) Griffiths participated fell ill three times with Malaria, it took him 28 and 51 days respectively to deal with the first two, when he went to hospital for the third one on the 25th April 1919, (12). Soon after he returned home back to Australia as the 1st Light Horse Regiment was finished with their part in the war and clearn up. Griffiths arrived back in Australia 11th June 1919 and he was discharged on 10th September 1919. (13)
After the war Griffiths married, worked as an accountant and got to a director position for Harry Courtney, Pty, Ltd. (15) On 30th December 1937, Harold Robert Griffiths defended Frank Alexander Garden, who had been accused of embezzlement, stating that the “defendant was manager of the firm’s George-Street branch. He had been a good servant and no fault had been found with his work.” (16)
On September 30th 1938, Harold Griffiths and Griffiths’ wife, Marjorie Griffiths divorced. (17) On the 17th of March 1953, Griffiths became a trustee of the estate of Dr. David Guthrie Hunter, to include the goodwill of his practice in a deed of composition of the estate, allowing Griffiths to legally use his assets to pay creditors. (20) Griffiths becoming a trustee was the last known event that Griffiths was a part of until his death, both the date and cause of death, unknown.
Endnotes
1 Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
4 Ibid
5 Ibid
6 Ibid
7 Ibid
8 National Archives of Australia | Harold Robert Griffiths (1914-1920)
9 National Archives of Australia | Harold Robert Griffiths (1914-1920)
10 Ibid
11 Australian War Memorial | 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment
12 Ibid
13 AIF Project ‘Harold Robert Griffiths.’
14 Ibid
15 Ibid
16 Ibid
17 Ibid
18 Ibid
19 Ibid
20 Ibid
Bibliography
Stevenson, Ken.
Research on Google Drive.
This source provides personal research conducted by Ken Stevenson.
Virtual War Memorial Australia.
"Harold Robert Griffiths." Virtual War Memorial.
This entry on the Virtual War Memorial website provides a good starting point on Harold Robert Griffiths, as it includes information about his service number, enlistment, rank, unit, birth, death, schooling, occupation, memorial site and home town. Available at: Virtual War Memorial
Australian War Memorial.
"1st Australian Light Horse Regiment." Australian War Memorial.
This source offers historical context about the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, stating its battles, and significance in World War I. Available at: Australian War Memorial
AIF Project.
"Harold Robert Griffiths." AIF Project.
The AIF (Australian Imperial Force) Project provides records on soldiers who served, including personal details, enlistment details and service records. It also includes details about the fate of the soldier. Available at: AIF Project
National Archives of Australia.
"Harold Robert Griffiths (1914-1920)." National Archives of Australia.
This source contains official military documents and service records for Harold Robert Griffiths, such as enlistment papers, service forms, and medical records from 1914 to 1920. Available at: National Archives of Australia