WARREN, Harry Collier
| Service Number: | 1899 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Bombardier |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Port Pirie, South Australia , 20 November 1893 |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | St Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Articled Law Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in aircraft accident during training, United Kingdom, 4 April 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery Newport Cemetery, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hackney St Peter's College Fallen Honour Board, Port Pirie Blocks School Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 1899, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 31 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 1899, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Medic, Fremantle | |
| 3 Mar 1917: | Involvement Cadet | |
| 4 Apr 1917: | Involvement Bombardier, 1899, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1899 awm_unit: 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade att Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Bombardier awm_died_date: 1917-04-04 |
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From the book Fallen Saints
Harry Collier Warren was born at Port Pirie, South Australia in 1893. Little is known about his school years other than he attended St Peter's College 1906-1911 and while there served in the School’s cadet unit.
He later studied law and when he enlisted in Perth on 17 August 1914 was an articled clerk for the firm of Penny & Hill.
His mother died while he was very young so he was raised by his sister Marjory; their father must have died during 1909 for in the May 1910 issue of the School Magazine it is reported that William’s older brother took over the family farm.
W.R. Warren of Port Pirie has taken over the stud founded by his father. He is to be congratulated on the results of the first sale, of blood stock, under his management. [i]
At the end of October 1914, he sailed from Fremantle with 8th Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade aboard HMAT Medic.
The 8th Battery commanded by Major Alfred Bessell-Brown was among the first Australian field artillery batteries to see action at Anzac. The battery landed on 26 April but due to unsuitable terrain and the lack of gun positions were returned to the ship late the same day but were brought ashore again on the evening of 1 May.
By the time the 8th Battery was evacuated in December it had seen repeated action and was involved in numerous heavy engagements at Anzac.
In February, while at Tel- el- Kebir Barracks, 1899 Driver Warren was promoted to Bombardier and proceeded to France in March.
In late November, he was accepted to attend the Australian Flying Corps School of Instruction and with hopes of a bright future, marched in to No 69 Squadron Royal Flying Corps at South Carlton near Lincoln, England on 3 March 1917. Cadet (Bombardier) Harry Collier Warren was killed in an aeroplane accident during training on 4 April 1917; he was 23 years of age.
An inquest held the day after Harry’s death found he had been accidently killed while flying as a pupil in a machine with a second lieutenant as the pilot.
It was stated that the machine began to spin, and in spite of the efforts of the pilot the controls would not work properly. It was suggested that the rudder was jammed by air pressure. ... [ii]
Harry’s brothers, Gunner William Warren MM, (OS) and Lieutenant Bertie Warren (OS) survived the war. Their cousin, Lieutenant Alan Wilson Morey MC and Bar (OS) was killed in action on 24 January 1918.
[i] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, May 1910, p. 50
[ii] Flight - The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom, official notices to members, 12 April 1917, p. 343
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