Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Before the war:

Harry James Gardiner was born in the July of 1877 in Canarvon, England. Later in life, Gardiner was married to Mrs Lucy Ellen Gardiner, whose nickname was “Gremoria” and who was also Gardiner’s next of kin along with their 2 children. The Gardiner’s recorded place of residence in Victoria was on Millswyn street, in South Yarra.

Harry James Gardiner was described on his enlistment papers that he was a 5”8 ½ inch man, weighing 69kg (154lbs) heavy, with hair that was “turning grey”, brown eyes, and had a medium complexion to his face. He gave his religion as Church of England. After enlistment he was sent to a Morphettville camp to continue training for the next 10 months in preparation for the war.

During the war:

Gardiner enlisted in Adelaide, South Australia on the 3rd of September 1915 yet embarked on the 9th of June the following year upon the HMAT Afric A19, a ship that was converted to hold men as well as horses. Upon enlistment, Gardiner was employed as a Corporal of the 43rd Infantry battalion, 3rd Division. Given Gardiner’s previous occupation and experience as a foreman, he was an attractive candidate for this position. Progressing through the war, Gardiner had multiple promotions including: Corporal, Lance sergeant, and Sergeant with roughly 1 month between promotions. On the 22/12/16, Gardiner was taken on strength of a sub-unit, the 11th Field ambulance, 43rd Infantry battalion.

While in service, Gardiner was hospitalised twice, his first time was due to (9/7/17) influenza rendering him absent for 4 days. Gardiner recovered and went back to his unit.

The 11th Field ambulance and the 43rd Infantry battalion fought side by side, meaning that they shared the same battles and travelled together. On the 4th of October 1917, the 3rd division (41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th Battalions) assembled on no man’s land at 2am in the morning and set out at 3am to travel to Ypres, as per the general’s request, arriving at 10pm the following day. While this was occurring, heavy rainfall fell upon Ypres and the areas surround it. This rainfall waterlogged the ground and rendered the soil a “soup of mud” proving difficult for soldiers to move through. The rainfall’s effects were amplified during this time, due to the irrigation and drainage systems throughout the Flanders ridges being destroyed by heavy artillery shell damage. This made it difficult for battalions to transport artillery and weapons who had to pull them through mud. On the 6/10/17, the division headed towards “Toronto Camp”, a place set up between the towns of Poperinghe and Ypres to set up camp.

The 43rd Battalion was heavily involved in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, also know as the battle of Passchendaele. The Allies' intentions were to take control of the east and south ridges of Passchendaele, to advance the small town to gain a better vantage point, and to seize the Kortrijk railway. This railway was connected to the Roulers railway which was the vital main supply route for the 4th German army. gardiner was twice heavily involved in this fighting. First, on the 4/10/17, he performed the actions which won him the Military Medal by organising the evacuation of wounded from the attack on Broodseinde Ridge. On the 11/10/17, (This is also the day that Gardiner got his injury) the 3rd division, assisted by the 4th Australian division, both made advances onto the town of Passchendaele and gained ground. However, that said ground could not be upheld, due to the weather conditions while fighting in the mires and bogs, and in addition the heavy artillery raining upon them. Exhausted physically and munitions wise, the 3rd and 4th divisions decided to retreat. The 43rd Battalion retreated to the Bremen Redoubt, in Zonnebeke, Belgium.

As mentioned before, on the 11/10/17 was the day Gardiner got his injury. This mild injury was due from a GSW in his right buttock, rendering him demobilized. Gardiner was quickly transferred to the 2nd Old Park Military Hospital in Canterbury five days later, then on the 19/10/17, Gardiner was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital. Due to the lack of information, I could not discover what Gardiner did later in the war, as the National archives did not provide the information, but he appears to have remained attached to the hospital in some capacity. Gardiner was discharged from the AIF on the 15th of April 1919, still in London.

After serving a full service, Gardiner attained a Victory medal for the Allies victory, a Military medal for his exceptional bravery and leadership on the battlefield, and a Star medal for his service in the AIF.

11th Field ambulance:

The 11th Field Ambulance was a unit that supported 11th Brigade of the 3rd division, (The 3rd division was comprised of the 41st,42nd, 43rd, 44th Infantry battalions) while on the frontlines. The purpose of the 11th Field ambulance was to open medical posts, operate Advanced dressing stations, made safe passage for the injured, conduct first aid, clear airways, staunch and reduce bleeding, assist in wrapping splint fractures, etc. This was done so that if a soldier did need further treatment, they would be able to be transported to a regimental aid post. (RAP)

The 11th Field ambulance had to transport bodies and the injured from deep in the frontlines, to transport them to certain posts. This integral operation therefore exposed the unit to as much risk and danger the frontline faces. With this, the unit showed tremendous amounts of bravery and selflessness to guarantee safe passage for someone else, by putting their lives on the line, demonstrating the Anzac spirit.

Primarily hand-held stretchers were used to transport the injured and needed 4-8 people to help carry. Hand carts and other means of transport were available, but due to the aforementioned weather conditions and terrain conditions, these other ways would be more difficult and less efficient. After a patient was delivered to a RAP, they would be examined by a Regimental Medical Officer, who would ultimately determine someone’s importance and priority in whether to use scarce resources on them or not. After being examined, it was the 11th Field ambulance’s responsibility to deliver a patient to an Advanced dressing station, then to a Casualty Clearing Station. (CCS) From an CCS, if a patient were deemed of high priority or had a high recovery chance, they would be sent to a Hospital.

After the war:

After the war Gardiner did not return home to Australia, he eventually decided to reside in the UK, more specifically, “Good Toms, & Coy, 55 Basinghall st, London.”. It is unknown as to why Gardiner did not return to Australia. When the government reached out to Lucy Ellen Gardiner to deposit Harry James’ medals, she did not respond. So, I speculate that either the Gardiners reunited in and then lived in London, or Gardiner was unable to travel back home. I do not believe there was marital issues involved, as Harry James’ will is entirely dedicated to Lucy Ellen. Unfortunately, no other information about Gardiner’s death or life after the war could be recovered or found.