Harvey SCHOFIELD

SCHOFIELD, Harvey

Service Number: 1437
Enlisted: 1 September 1915, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 29th Infantry Battalion
Born: Crompton, Oldham. England, 1889
Home Town: Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Grocer
Died: Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 3 June 1970, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Corryong and District Avenue of Honour Memorial
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World War 1 Service

1 Sep 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1437, 29th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria
10 Nov 1915: Involvement Private, 1437, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
10 Nov 1915: Embarked Private, 1437, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne
19 Jul 1916: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1437, 29th Infantry Battalion, Wounds to both legs. Invalided to England on the 22 July 1916 aboard HS Jan Brydel fro Boulogne. Left leg later amputated at mid left thigh
1 Feb 1918: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1437, 29th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 3rd Military District as wounded

Help us honour Harvey Schofield's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of John Schofield and Ellen Schofield nee Gartside of 17 Haughton Terrace, Shaw, Lancashire, England

Commenced return to Australia on 1 November 1917 aboard HMAT Anchises disembarking at Cate Town, South Africa on 6 December 1917. Re-embarked HT Berrima on 13 December 1917 for onward travel to Australia

Dring 1922 Harvey married Dorothy Isabel Barry in Victoria

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

 

Biography contributed by Stephen Learmonth

Harvey Schofield was born in 1889 in Crompton, Oldham, Lancashire, England, to John Schofield and Ellen, nee Garfield. 

On the 1st September 1915, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria and underwent his medical at Corryong, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 26-year-old grocer. He was allocated Regimental Number  1437 and placed in the 1st Reinforcements for the 29th Battalion. Harvey gave his next of kin as his father, John. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A11 Ascanius on 10th November 1915 at Melbourne, Victoria.

He disembarked at Suez on 7th December 1915 and was taken on strength with the 29th Battalion in early March 1916. Three months later, the battalion disembarked at Marseille and proceeded to the Western Front. 

On 19th July, the 29th Battalion, as part of the 8th Brigade of the 5th Division, took part in the first battle on the Western Front for Australian forces - Fromelles. By the end of the next day, Harvey was one of the 5533 casualties suffered by the 5th Division. He had taken gunshot wounds in both legs. Within four days of being wounded, Harvey was evacuated to England. His very short war was over.

The 30th November 1916 issue of Corryong Courier included information about Harvey.

Mr Lacy received a letter this week from Private Harvey Schofield, under date October 18th. Harvey is in hospital in England, and by the context of his letter is having a rather bad time. Some time ago he was wounded, but recovered sufficiently to go back to the trenches. He was not there long before he was severely wounded in a bombing expedition on July 19th last, when he had both legs injured, beside several other wounds.

Judging by his letter he has had his left leg amputated, and was so seriously ill at one period that his parents were sent for. However, he says during the last three weeks that he has made good progress. He wished to be remembered to his Upper Murray friends. Anyone wishing his address may obtain it from Mr Lacy.”

The 4th October 1917 issue of Corryong Courier included further information about Harvey.

In a letter received recently by Mr A. Lacey from Harvey Schofield from England, Harvey wishes to thank all his kind enquiring friends of Corryong and the Murray for their messages of sympathy, letters and papers. He is at present convalescing in England, and expects that probably he will be sent back to Australia within the next few months.”

On 30th December 1917, he returned to Australia aboard HMAT A35 Berrima, with the rank of Private. He was discharged on 1st February 1918, being awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

Harvey married Dorothy Isabel Barry in 1922 in Victoria. He died at Heidelberg, Victoria, on 3rd June 1970 and was laid to rest at the Castlemaine General Cemetery.

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