REMFRY, Henry Alfred
| Service Number: | 1279 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 February 1915, An original member of D Company 19th Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | William Street Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Bullecourt, France, 5 May 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1279, 19th Infantry Battalion, An original member of D Company 19th Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 1279, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 1279, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Honoured Military Medal, Battle for Pozières | |
| 5 May 1917: | Involvement 1279, 2nd Pioneer Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1279 awm_unit: 2 Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Lance Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-05-05 |
Help us honour Henry Alfred Remfry's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Henry Alfred Remfry, known as ‘Harry’ was one of the sons of Thomas Alexander and Sarah Bennett Remfry of Camperdown, New South Wales.
His slightly older brother, 4599 Pte. George William Remfry 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion had died of wounds during the fighting around Pozieres on 19 August 1916, aged 21.
Another younger brother, 17091 Able Seaman Ernest John Remfry, lost his life in the Second World War when the HMAS Sydney was sunk with all hands by the German raider ‘Kormoran’.
Harry Remfry was only 19 years of age when he enlisted with the 19th Battalion. He served on Gallipoli from August 1915 until he was evacuated with trench feet on 12 December 1915. During March 1916 he was promoted to Corporal and transferred to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion.
He was awarded a Military Medal during the Pozieres battle, the recommendation stating, “On 1 August 1916, in Sausage Valley, Pozieres, one of a large party dropped a Mills bomb with the pin out. Corporal Remfry rushed up and kicked the bomb away, followed it up and attempted to kick it further, when it exploded and severely injured him. Action probably saved many others.”
The wounds resulted in him being evacuated to England for many months of recovery. He rejoined his unit in France during March 1917 and was promoted to Lance Sergeant.
He was killed by shellfire on 5 May 1917, near Bullecourt, when he and others were digging a sap. Burial was not possible at the time due to heavy bombardment and his remains were lost.
His father, Thomas Remfry, also passed away in Sydney six months later, in February 1917.
George’s mother, Sarah Remfry, noted on his roll of honour form that his great grandfather, Drum Major Johnson, was killed during the Battle of Waterloo, and another great grandfather and his nine sons, whose name was Holden, were killed in the American Civil War.