Henry Melville Hardinge

Henry Melville Hardinge

Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Jan 1898
Place of Birth	Claremont, Western Australia
Death	30 Dec 1990, aged 92
Place of Death	Mt Lawley, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall ; 107lbs 48.534 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair
Occupation	Electrician
Religion	Church of England
Address	East Cannington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Thomas Henry Hardinge, East Cannington PO, Western Australia
Military Information
Reg Number	1979
Date of Enlistment	19 Jan 1916
Rank	Sapper
Unit/Formation	1st Pioneer Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	14 Apr 1916 ‒ ?? May 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A40 Ceramic
Date of Return	24 Jan 1919 ‒ 28 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	HMHS Delta
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Allocated to Pioneers, Henry was sent to Sydney for specialist training before embarking from there on 14 Apr 1916. On arrival in Port Said he was admitted to the 31st General Hospital on 16 May 1916 with influenza. On 3 Jun 1916 he was seen briefly by the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital who sent him on to the British Casualty Clearing Hospital at Montazah. They in turn had him readmitted to the 31st General Hospital in Alexandria with bronchitis on 22 May 1916 before he was transferred to the 3rd Australian General Hospital in Cairo on 7 Jul 1916. On 26 Jul 1916 he was transferred back to the Casualty Clearing Hospital to convalesce.

On 13 Aug 1916 Henry embarked for England aboard HMAT A61 Kanowna suffering with pneumonia, and on arrival he was admitted to the Sherlock Street Auxiliary Hospital in Liverpool. On 26 Aug 1916 he was a patient of the 1st Western General Hospital, and on 22 Sep 1916 he was well enough to march into the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, the first of many rear echelon postings while his health was assessed. On 29 Mar 1917 he was classified B1.a.4, and it wasn't until 14 May 1917 that he joined the Pioneer Training Battalion.

On 28 Jul 1917 he was found guilty of Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline (Gambling). He was awarded 4 days extra duties. Next he was AWOL from Midnight until 8:30 pm on 4 Aug 1917, forfeiting 2 day's pay. Henry spent from 21 - 25 Aug 1917 in the Fovant Military Hospital before proceeding to France through Southampton on 9 Oct 1917.

He entered the 1st Division Base Depot the following day and on 16 Oct 1917 joined his unit the 1st Pioneer Battalion at Ypres where they were undertaking road repairs and water supply. Henry was charged with absenting himself from a working party for 6 hours from 11pm on 23 Apr 1918 until 5:00am on 24 Apr 1918. His punishment was 14 days Field Punishment No 2, and the forfeiture of 15 day's pay.

On 2 Jun 1918 he presented to the 3rd Field Ambulance with dental issues and was transferred to the 2nd Field Ambulance where he was treated until he rejoined his unit on 8 Jun 1918. On 21 Aug 1918 he was seen by the 2nd Field Ambulance and treated for Bronchitis before embarking on HMHS Essequibo for England on 23 Aug 1918. Admitted next day to the Dorset Road Hospital, he was released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital on 16 Sep 1918. Released 5 days later he was to spend the rest of his time overseas in command depots in England before returning to Australia.

Discharged at the 5th Military District on 21 Apr 1919.

Post War

During 1927 Henry married Ruby Victoria Hounslow in Perth. Ruby died on 22 May 1972 in Nollamara. Stillborn daughter in 1928 and stillborn son in 1929. Electoral Roll entries: 1925 a farmer at Wyoning via Toodyay; 1931 Bruce Rock, labourer; 1936 - 1937 Holleton, farm labourer; 1954 at 24 Sorrento road, North Beach, electrician; 1958 - 1977 at 37 Milford Way Nollamara, electrician; 1980 at John Barleycorn Hotel, Nollamara, retired.