Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert Harold “Harry” Yon was a private destined to go far in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). He was a private, part of the 27th Battalion and the 7th Field Ambulance his story comes back to Crystal Brook, South Australia before he was a part of the war that changed the world. Born in 1893 Harry Yon was a labourer before he enrolled in the war. His life was different before the war, living in rural Australia. He never married, and his father Charlie Yon was his next of kin. He was living in Crystal Brook, South Australia before enlisting in the army. World War One (WWI) was the largest scale war ever seen on earth and Yon was one of the earliest people to be sent to Gallipoli.

Yon was a rare soldier, being one of two hundred Chinese Soldiers who fought for Australia in the war. He had two brothers who also fought for Australia, and one of his brothers died in action. The other tried to get into the war and on his first try was denied. Being a Chinese Soldier Yon was quite dark-skinned compared to other soldiers and could have struggled to enlist with some enlisting officers.

His journey starts on the 30th of December 1914 when he puts in his original application to get into the AIF. He passes, meeting the requirements. Standing at 5”4 and 140 lbs he is shipped off to Egypt for training. After around six months Harry Yon’s war experience starts on the now-Turkish coast of the Ottoman Empire, Gallipoli. Little was documented about his time in Gallipoli as part of the 27th Battalion, the 7th Field Ambulance.

Yon’s time in Gallipoli is where he spent two of his four years fighting in WWI. His battalion's first battle was the landing on ANZAC Cove on the 25th of April. This was the first battle that kicked off warfare on the Turkish Coast. Then he partook in the battle for Lone Pine that August of 1915. This was a fierce attack on the Turkish trenches at Lone Pine that appeared to be a success. While Lone Pine was a success there was a futile attack that same August which did nothing but damage the ANZAC troops. This was the battle of the Nek in which they tried to attack well-fortified Turkish defences leading the ANZACs into trouble. Being part of the field ambulance he would have had a hard time running out and helping the wounded and getting the dead off the field.

The 27th Battalion then moved to France on the Western Front, holding down the ground from the German troops who were pushing hard to get to Paris. He was at war in France for almost three years before he was discharged at the end of the war and sent home. During his time, it wasn’t all smooth sailing because he was wounded in action halfway through his stay, sent off to a hospital in England before being sent back to trench warfare. It wasn’t easy in the trenches because they didn’t build them for the stalemate, but they built them for a short period. Often muddy cold and wet the trenches were not a nice place to stay but the job had to be done. Yon dug deep inside himself during his time in France to keep going and stay strong.

The Western Front was some of the hardest fighting done throughout the war, being part of the Allies didn’t make it easier. The trenches were poorly made and often people would come down with wounds like trench foot or illnesses because of the poor environment. Fighting there would have been very difficult for the average person and the dangers of illness, and the constant PTSD of gunfire is a horrible way to live.  Harry Yon would have needed to go through this every day. His time in France wasn’t all easy-going as he spent two more years in the treacherous trenches of Pozieres, France fighting the war. Shortly into the fighting on the western front in January 1916, it appeared that Yon had suddenly come down with an illness. He was out of action for 16 days getting treatment for his illness.  I

n July the battle of Pozieres would start for the next month. While it was a difficult battle and coming at a cost the 27th Battalion managed to capture the town of Pozieres. To capture Mouquet Farm soon after Pozieres in August, the 27th Battalion wanted the strategic advantage of the Farm. While a small both the battle of Pozieres and the battle of the Mouquet Farm were bloody and tough fights with different outcomes, they both were a part of the larger battle, the battle of Somme.  Fighting in trenches on the western front of France Yon fell ill on the 20th of October 1917 he was away from fighting for two months. He was fighting strong through Christmas and the New Year with not much change but three months into 1918 on the 6th of March he changed his location while still fighting in France. He felt briefly unwell very quickly before returning to fight. On the 10th of May Yon was then wounded in battle, because of this he was admitted to an English hospital for treatment. On the 23rd of May. He remained there for 3 months until September 21st when he was required back in the trenches.

Yon then partook and a handful of battles leading toward the home stretch of the war, such as the battle of Amiens in August 1918 starting the 100-day offensive, which was 100 days straight of Allied attacks. Advancing onto the Hindenburg line was the last major battle Yon partook in, which was one of the final fights of the war. Then after that, the armistice was upon us. Yon was finally at peace with the war over. Being discharged on the 14th of June 1919 Yon’s time fighting was finally all done. Being in his shoes back in Australia as a young man forced to fight, this would have been difficult and with the potential for the trauma of war, seeing friends, family and allies die beside you, the constant gunfire in your ears, and the terrible devastation of the Gallipoli campaign, He could have had a difficult life. He was one of the people who helped shape Australia’s fighting ANZAC spirit and to him, we pay our respects. According to the numbers he was just a person. But to us, and all Aussies, he was a hero. When passing on, he was in his 59th year on the 24th of July 1952. He was laid to rest peacefully and died of natural causes in Adelaide. His grave is in the military part of the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. From Labourer to private, to war hero. Yon is the ANZAC spirit.