Pte
Harry Wall
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1892 |
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Place of birth: Hackney, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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Profession: Farm Labourer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 3238 |
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Enlistment date: 22/09/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 25th Bn. (Queensland) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 04/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Broodseinde, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXIV Row: C Grave: 13 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #5 | Sterfteplaats |
My story
Harry Wall, a former Farm labourer, was born in the spring of 1892 in Hackney, Middlesex in England, The United Kingdom. He was the son of George and Ellen Wall and had an Uncle named Harry Nott. Later on in life, Harry would immigrate to Queensland in Australia.
Harry enlisted on the 22nd of September 1915 in Toowoomba, Queensland in Australia. He would later serve as a Private in the 25th Battalion Australian Infantry (Queensland), Part of the 7th Australian Brigade, of the 2nd Australian Division. On the 30th of December 1915, his unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland.
During the first week of October 1917, the 25th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 7th Australian Brigade and the 2nd Australian Division, was positioned in the Ypres area.
On October 1st, the battalion moved to the Esplanade saps in Ypres, with officers conducting reconnaissance of the Zonnebeke sector. The following evening, on October 2nd, the battalion advanced and took over the front line from the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion.
The battalion's primary engagement occurred on October 4th, during the Battle of Broodseinde, which was part of the wider Battle of Passchendaele. The 2nd Australian Division attacked at 5:25 AM. The 7th Australian Brigade's objective was to clear the village of Zonnebeke and capture Daisy Wood. The 25th Battalion led the brigade’s advance, securing the area east of Thames Wood.
After clearing Zonnebeke of enemy snipers, the battalion encountered heavy machine-gun fire from Daisy Wood as they reached the crest of Broodseinde ridge. Despite the intense fire, they successfully fought off German counter-attacks. However, the advance was halted, and the battalion consolidated its position in an old British trench about 180 meters short of its objective. The captured position was held against a German counter-attack that inflicted significant casualties.
Following the battle, the battalion held the captured objective on October 5th. On October 6th, they were relieved and moved to Westhoek Ridge.
Private Wall, aged 25, was Killed In Action on the 4th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Broodseinde, Zonnebeke at 28.D.23.c.10.60. The remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXIV, Row C, Grave 13.
Harry enlisted on the 22nd of September 1915 in Toowoomba, Queensland in Australia. He would later serve as a Private in the 25th Battalion Australian Infantry (Queensland), Part of the 7th Australian Brigade, of the 2nd Australian Division. On the 30th of December 1915, his unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland.
During the first week of October 1917, the 25th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 7th Australian Brigade and the 2nd Australian Division, was positioned in the Ypres area.
On October 1st, the battalion moved to the Esplanade saps in Ypres, with officers conducting reconnaissance of the Zonnebeke sector. The following evening, on October 2nd, the battalion advanced and took over the front line from the 28th Australian Infantry Battalion.
The battalion's primary engagement occurred on October 4th, during the Battle of Broodseinde, which was part of the wider Battle of Passchendaele. The 2nd Australian Division attacked at 5:25 AM. The 7th Australian Brigade's objective was to clear the village of Zonnebeke and capture Daisy Wood. The 25th Battalion led the brigade’s advance, securing the area east of Thames Wood.
After clearing Zonnebeke of enemy snipers, the battalion encountered heavy machine-gun fire from Daisy Wood as they reached the crest of Broodseinde ridge. Despite the intense fire, they successfully fought off German counter-attacks. However, the advance was halted, and the battalion consolidated its position in an old British trench about 180 meters short of its objective. The captured position was held against a German counter-attack that inflicted significant casualties.
Following the battle, the battalion held the captured objective on October 5th. On October 6th, they were relieved and moved to Westhoek Ridge.
Private Wall, aged 25, was Killed In Action on the 4th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Broodseinde, Zonnebeke at 28.D.23.c.10.60. The remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXIV, Row C, Grave 13.
Sources 4
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25 Australian Infantry Battalion OF 7 Brigade, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/42/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, W H). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p 113-114 Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/465022 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ee5fc684-7be0-4426-b6e5-8e037e5912d5 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=311498 |