Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry John Penny was the son of Thomas and Jane Penny, of Hughenden, Queensland. His mother had passed away when he was only 8 years of age. The father, Mr. Thomas Penny, was one of Hughenden’s oldest citizens, having arrived there in 1884. He passed away in January 1916, noted as one of the town’s most esteemed pioneers.

Henry’s younger brother, 2265 Pte. Francis Robert Penny also of the 15th Battalion AIF, died of wounds in France on 5 July 1918, aged 23.

Henry John Penny was known as ‘Harry’ Penny to his family and friends. He enlisted in the 15th Battalion and joined the unit on the Western Front during October 1916. He was made a Lance Corporal during January 1917.

Harry Penny took part in a raid on 1 February 1917, near Gueudecourt, when the 15th Battalion attacked a section of the German front line known as Stormy Trench. The party consisted of 150 men and six officers, or one and half companies. The attack started at about 7.00 p.m. on a frontage of 500 metres. Although the enemy trenches were only 100 metres from the Australian lines, inadequate artillery support caused the attack to fail. A German counter attack at 11 p.m. was beaten off. In the face of relentless German shelling of the captured trenches, and a stronger German counter attack at 4.30 a.m. the Battalion was forced to retire. Although 52 German soldiers were captured, the 15th Battalion’s casualties were 38 men killed, over 20 captured by the Germans and over 80 wounded.

Harry was reported as missing soon after the battle. A note in his file states, “Extract from Routine Orders, by GOC, 1st ANZAC: “Name brought to notice for gallant conduct during operations in an attack on enemy position NE of Gueudecourt during night of 1/2nd February 1917.”

He was awarded a posthumous Mention in Despatches, the recommendation stating “He displayed great gallantry during attack on enemy trench on night 1st/2nd February 1917 north east of Gueudecourt. He was very conspicuous in the bomb fighting that took place after the position had been captured. He was a great example to his comrades. He was killed towards the close of the operation. He also showed unselfish courage on the 30 January 1917 when our position north east of Gueudecourt was intensely shelled by enemy artillery, he rescued wounded under heavy fire and carried them to a place of safety.”

Harry Penny’s Red Cross Wounded and Missing file is very detailed, with 72 pages of statements, which most conclude that he was killed when he was returning to the Australian lines, carrying 4900 Lance Corporal W.J. Spencer, who was wounded in the leg. Harry was hit by machine gun bullets and his body was left in No Mans Land. When the Australians captured Stormy Trench again a few days later, his remains could not be found. From other accounts, it was said Spencer and Penny were in the same reinforcements and were great mates.

The Charters Towers Northern Miner printed the following on 9 May 1917.

“The confirmation of the sad intelligence of the death of Harry Penny. Some time ago word was received officially that Corporal H. J. Penny was wounded and missing in France.

On Saturday last his brother, T. V. Penny, of Poseidon Downs, received the following letter from Private E. McQuillan, “I am writing this letter of sympathy on the loss of your brother Harry. The last information I could gather was from Lance-Corporal Spencer, who was sergeant in our reinforcement. I met him on a stretcher. He was wounded. He said he and Harry were coming back from the German lines. Harry was wounded in the arm, and Spencer badly wounded in the leg and Harry was helping him back, when a machine gun opened out on them. Spencer got in a shell hole, and when the gun stopped firing, he turned round to Harry and asked him if he was all right. He got no response, so thought he was shot dead; but there is every possibility of him being seriously wounded and taken prisoner, as our Company had to evacuate Fritz's trench; that would leave Harry in No man's land. Again, the operations were not successful, but two nights afterwards our Brigade was successful. This was Harry's first go over, and he was the bravest of soldiers, and he could not be too much praised. Everyone in the company was speaking of him and how brave he was in the trenches. Now, I think I have enlightened you as far as I can and with every good wish for the possibility of Harry only being wounded and taken prisoner.”

Private Jack Sommers also writes “I am very sorry to tell you of your brother Harry. Poor lad, he was killed in action on the 2nd February. And how well the boys in the unit speak of him and how bravely he fought. I have seen lots of them who were in the charge with him and they say he was a great hero to the last. I saw him only three days before, and he looked so well and hearty. Poor lad. I feel for you in your sad loss of such a fine brother….”

No doubt, from the intelligence contained in these letters, poor Harry Penny's name is only one more added to those that are sleeping on the snow-covered fields of France, and one more addition to the toll we are paying for the maintenance of civilization. Great sympathy is extended to his bereaved friends, and in his demise, Hughenden loses one of its most popular and promising young men.”