Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born in Adelaide on the 15th March, 1907, Harold was the younger son of G.H. and Olive Mary Ann Harlow Short. Harold attended the School of Mines where he was successful in gaining his Fitting and Turning qualifications in the 1920’s.
Harold then moved to Barmera where he was employed by a local Murray Trading packing shed cooperative. Being young and a hard worker, he was cheaper to employ by a not-overly scrupulous employer as a driver of his lorry to Adelaide from Kingston to collect a load of petrol and Kerosene. Harold would pay for the goods himself and then be reimbursed by the shed owners, including for his services. Legally however, such goods had to belong to the lorry owner to be carried on a controlled road. This was to protect the rail transport industry and the whole incident of the Cooperative shed using Harold for cheap cartage was viewed in a very poor light when the incident went to the Barmera Police Court in September ’34 when Harold was found to not legally own the goods. Fortunately, Harold presented as a well-dressed young man with no prior convictions. The Coop shed manager had given an unsigned statement, which was viewed ‘as subtle and there was evidently brains at the back of it all.’ The magistrate noted that Harold could not have made much for the cheap carting rates and instead of a possible £100 fine, was fined £7, £1 court fees, and £2 counsel fees.
Margaret (Florence) Marrett of Burnside and Harold married on the 26th October ’36. The following year was challenging for the young couple with the death of Margaret’s 72-year-old father in August. However, the arrival of their daughter, Beverley Grace on the 24th December was greatly welcomed as was a son, John in later years.
Aged 33 years, Harold enlisted to serve during WWII with several other Barmera men, Rex Gurr and Ian McLeod who both worked for the Savings Bank of South Australia, on the 5th July ’40. Harold was allocated SX8035, Ian SX7893 and Rex SX7862 with all placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. They were amongst 18 men who were farewelled by 400 Barmera people at the Bonney Theatre in October ’40. Many of the men had similarly been allocated to the 2/48th with Harold, including SX8060 Archibald McFarlaine and SX7028 Murray McFarlaine, SX8031 Grant Thorpe, SX6884 R.A. Altschwager, SX5466 Jack Stoddart, SX7284 Stanley Gordon, SX6935 George T. Brown (who later was killed in action on May 1st ’41) , SX7189 Lewis Semmens (who died of wounds in New Guinea on the 22nd November, ’43), SX8055 Victor Semmens and SX7969 Donald Wing.
Part of the farewell speech from the R.S.A. representative included the prediction that ‘History would repeat itself in that what had been dared by the old Diggers would be done again by the young Diggers. The mothers, sisters and sweethearts, he urged to be of good cheer and courage. The Prime Minister had given the answer that the boys would have the finest of fighting equipment. That, combined with intense training in Egypt, should make them fit enough for anything. On behalf of the local R.S.A. Sub branch, he conveyed to the men congratulations and best wishes, and gave them the assurance that they would not be let down by those left behind.’ Colonel Dean added that ‘he spoke with mixed feelings. Those feelings were of disgust and disappointment and pride. The first two because the men of the old A.I.F. were not permitted to finish the job they went away to do; the last because the men of the Second A.I.F. were going to carry on the fight and finish it, with victory. By going forth to fight the men today were giving the country their greatest service. in this they had the support of the whole of Australia, backed up with the most modern of fighting weapons. He felt confident that they would give a good account of themselves and prove second to none. He wished them good luck and God speed.’
Each of the men were then given a gift of a pound note before each responded personally to the well-wishers. With formalities over, supper and dancing followed.
The large contingent from the 2/48th Battalion, including many from Kadina, embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940. arriving on the 17th December 1940. Once in the Middle East, the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. Ian first earned an early fine for striking a superior officer in November that year, then an admonishment in February for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline’ but his future prospects for promotion were not affected. From there, he was soon on his way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. Harold was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
He was to become one of the invaluable Transport group, mentioned by John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan. In April ’41 he wrote that ‘An Italian mobile workshop had been spotted on the Derna-side aerodrome, and this had been “scrounged” by some of the Headquarters Company Drivers and unofficially added to the establishment. It was complete with drilling machine, lathe and welding plant. Eric Thursfield with Les Brown, Harold Short and “Toddy”, repaired vehicles, carriers and weapons for the whole brigade.’
The conditions in the Middle East contributed to Harold contracting tonsilitis several times and requiring hospitalisation before he was able to return and take up his skills initially as a mechanic and later as a Group I fitter. However, he developed a high fever and was again hospitalised before again being able to return. Harold’s service had a devastating cost to his family life. He returned to Australia in March ’43 following his service in the Middle East. Uncharacteristically he was to face a charge of neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline but the compassionate response was an admonishment. Harold found that bookmaker and local based soldier SX38804 had formed a relationship with his wife, Florence.
Harold was discharged in September ’43 on compassionate grounds. By October he was granted a divorce from Florence and the local soldier involved, ordered to pay £100 damages. Harold then moved back to live at Port Noarlunga with his family.
Aged 95, Harold died on the 19th December 2002 and was interred at Centennial Park Cemetery. Derrick Gardens Path 56 Grave 1383B. In a touching tribute, his two children Beverley and John had ‘He did his best always’ inscribed on his plaque. A fitting tribute.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion