George Emanuel Harber

George Emanuel Harber

1922 photo of George as a Roads Board Member 1920 - 23
Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Nov 1892
Place of Birth	Yarrick Villa, New South Wales
Death	1956, aged 83
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	44 years, 10 months
Description	5' 6½" (1.69m) tall ; 126 lbs 57.153 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; fair hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Congregational
Address	Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Marion Harber
Military Information
Reg Number	7424
Date of Enlistment	12 Oct 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement transferred to 51st Battalion Base Details.
Date of Embarkation	13 Mar 1918 ‒ 4 Apr 1918
Ship Embarked On	RMS Ormonde Fremantle to Port Suez
Date of Embarkation	30 Apr 1918 ‒ 15 May 1918
Ship Embarked On	RMS Ormonde Alexandria to Southampton
Date of Return	22 Sep 1919 ‒ 4 Nov 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A15 Port Sydney
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel) Roleystone Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

On 28 Jun 1905 married Marion McKay, and on 4 Apr 1906 a daughter, Ethel Marion was born at Canning road, Richmond. Alma Lillian followed in 1908, Dorothy May in 1910. On 11 Jun 1914 a fourth daughter Myra Isobel was born in Nurse Milton's private hospital in Kelmscott.

Electoral Roll entries - 1903 & 1906 a nurseryman living in High street Fremantle. In 1910 George was with wife Marion, listed as caretaker of The Oval, East Fremantle; 1912-16 an orchardist at Roleystone.

War Service

Was required to sign a Statutory Declaration to say that he was under 45 years of age before he was enlisted. Entered camp on 12 Nov 1917 and on 20 Feb 1918 he was assigned to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, travelling with them to England via Egypt where he had an unplanned visit of a month.

On arrival in England he was sent to the 5th Training Battalion at Fovant, and on 4 Jun 1918 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion Base Details unit on 14 Jun 1918 and remained at Codford base until after the armistice.

Did not reach France before the war's end. Used as an instructor in the UK while waiting to return to Australia. On 12 Aug 1918 he was appointed Acting Sergeant (instructor?) reverting to Private on 5 Feb 1919

Spent several months at AIF HQs, before taking 3 months leave from 15 May 1919 until 15 Aug 1919 to attend the London Fruit Markets to learn about the marketing and sale of fruit. On return to Australia was discharged by the 5th Military District on 27 Nov 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 an orchardist in Karragullen with wife Marion, but the Supplementary Roll puts them at 462 Fitzgerald street, a shopkeeper; 1931 a gardener at 77 Sixth avenue, Maylands; 1939 with Marian and 3 girls at 78 West road, Bassendean In 1949 he is alone at 71 Atfield street, South Fremantle retired (?); 1954 at 61 Ellen street, Fremantle, retired. . Marion died 3 Jul 1944 in Bassendean.

Ethel Marion married John Alexander McCarroll on 2 Jan 1932. Dorothy May married Samuel Roy Gangell on 10 Jan 1935. Their two sons drowned at Yelbeni on 7 Oct 1944.

A road in Brookdale is named after George.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial