Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Harry Joshua Stuart was born in Westleton, England, circa 1887.

By the early stages of World War One Harry was in Australia as he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) at Casula, New South Wales, on 2 December 1915. At the time he was 28 years and 10 months old, working as an engineer. He gave his mother as his next of kin: Mrs W Smith of 42 Prebbleton Road in Sockburn NZ.

Harry served on the Western European front His service record indicates he was initially posted as a private to E Company, 17A Depot Battalion from the time of his enlistment until 31 December 1915. Starting the New Year, on 1 January 1916 he was transferred to the 5th Field Artillery (FA) Brigade, 5th Reinforcements as a gunner. On 1 April 1916 he transferred to the 7th Field Artillery (FA), 27th Battery, prior to shipping out from Sydney on 11 May 1916 on the Argyllshire, headed for England. There he disembarked in Devonport on 10 July 1916. In England Harry fell sick with a cold for a few days and was admitted to the Field Hospital from 30 November to 3 December, before rejoining his unit.

Orders for proceeding overseas came late in the year. On 29 December 1916 Harry left Southampton for France with the 7th Field Artillery. In France, on 12 January 1917, Harry was transferred to the 25th Battery in the Field. Harry served with the unit through the remainder of the year. In 1943, some years after the war, Harry wrote from Maori Hill Gardens in Timaru to Australian Base records. In the letter he requested a copy of his citation and asked about his pension. He also commented “I got gassed badly at Messines and have suffered a lot since.” However there does not appear to be any indication he was hospitalised during 1917. In any case the next mention of a posting in his service records is when he was awarded leave to Paris on 3 to 17 November.

Further leave, to the UK, also came early the following year. It began on 23 March 1918, but was cancelled a week later. With Russia having pulled out of the war, Germany had relocated more forces and committed them to a new attack in late March, known as the Ludendorff Offensive. As the Germans were making significant advances, Harry was no doubt called back to his unit to help the Allied Forces that were scrambling to contain the breakthrough.

The major German offensive eventually ran out of momentum in August. But during the fighting Harry received the Meritorious Service Medal, awarded on 18 June 1918 and was reported in the London Gazette on 17 June 1918. While enjoying leave he was given to the UK (England) from 23 July 1918, he fell sick. On 26 June 1918, Harry was once again admitted to Hospital, this time to Harefield House (No.1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital) in England. He remained there for around six weeks before being discharged on 5 August 1918. He was granted the balance of his leave which he spent in the UK before proceeding back overseas to rejoin his unit in France on 24 August.

In August the Allies mounted a counter-offensive, known as the ‘Hundred Days’. The offensive broke through the spent German forces and led to the eventual victory of the Allies. Following the Armistice of 11 November hostilities ended, and Harry’s service neared its end. However, it took time to get the large numbers of servicemen transported home. Harry had to wait some months, but eventually returned to Australia on the Zealandia 12 May 1919. There he weas finally discharged on 15 August 1919. For his service he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

After the ear Harry married Flora Alice Lewis, the only daughter of John and Alice Lewis on 26 August 1919 at St Mary’s Church, in Timaru, Harry’s occupation given as ‘Gardener’.

Harry passed away in Timaru on 14 December 1954, aged 73 years. He was buried in the Timaru Cemetery. When his wife Flora passed away ten years later, she was buried in the adjacent plot.

Sources

"STUART Harry : Service Number - 18945" {Military Service Records], National Archives of Australia, B2455, Item 8092936

External Links

• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin, South Canterbury Museum

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.