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Harry Duff Badmington
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1896 |
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Place of birth: Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Berkley Road, Manly, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
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: 3019 |
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Enlistment date: 08/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Holsworthy, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 20th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Defy Crossing, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXIX Row: E Grave: 22 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Last known residence | ||
| #2 | Place of birth | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harry Duff Badmington was born in 1896 in Manly, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of George and Annie Elizabeth Badmington. On August 23, 1915, he enlisted in the Australian Army. On October 2, 1916, he arrived in France and was assigned to the 20th Battalion (5th Brigade, 2nd Division).
Harry Duff Badmington was killed in action on October 9, 1917, during the Battle of Poelcapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele.
In October 1917, his unit was sent to the battlefield at Passchendaele to take part in the battle. The battalion was ordered to capture the line running from Hillside Farm to Daisy Wood. The 17th Battalion was to cross over the 20th Battalion after the capture of the line and advance towards the positions running from Haalen to Vienna Cottage. The day before the attack, it became clear that it would be a difficult operation. Heavy rain combined with almost constant shelling had turned the battlefield into a swamp. In several places, the trenches had flooded, and soldiers were forced to seek cover in shell craters. An officer from the Australian Machine Gun Corps who had reached the lines of the 20th Battalion reported that he had lost almost all of his men to shellfire and mud. In addition, the machine gun could no longer be used as it was completely clogged with mud.
Around 4 a.m., the various companies nevertheless began to move towards the starting line. Bombardments claimed their first casualties. At 5:30 a.m., the attack began. The troops were normally supposed to advance under the cover of a barrage, but in some cases, the shells fell behind the attacking troops. Nevertheless, the 20th Battalion succeeded in capturing the positions near Defy Crossing, Nieuwemolen, and Daisy Wood. Meanwhile, the attack of the 17th Battalion also began, passing through the troops of the 20th Battalion, resulting in several soldiers from the 20th Battalion advancing further with the 17th Battalion. The Australians succeeded in capturing Decoy Wood and Rhine and eventually advancing towards the final objectives. Just after 10 a.m., it was decided to withdraw to the first captured line and consolidate it. The attack on October 9 primarily had a devastating effect on “A” Company of the 20th Battalion. Their strength on September 29 was 97 men. On the day of the attack, this had been reduced to 50. When “A” Company marched back to Ypres on the evening of the attack, their strength had been reduced to only 1 officer, 1 NCO, and 4 soldiers.
The body of Harry Duff Badmington was found after the war between Defy Crossing and Nieuwemolen. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXIX, Row E, Grave 22.
Harry Duff Badmington was killed in action on October 9, 1917, during the Battle of Poelcapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele.
In October 1917, his unit was sent to the battlefield at Passchendaele to take part in the battle. The battalion was ordered to capture the line running from Hillside Farm to Daisy Wood. The 17th Battalion was to cross over the 20th Battalion after the capture of the line and advance towards the positions running from Haalen to Vienna Cottage. The day before the attack, it became clear that it would be a difficult operation. Heavy rain combined with almost constant shelling had turned the battlefield into a swamp. In several places, the trenches had flooded, and soldiers were forced to seek cover in shell craters. An officer from the Australian Machine Gun Corps who had reached the lines of the 20th Battalion reported that he had lost almost all of his men to shellfire and mud. In addition, the machine gun could no longer be used as it was completely clogged with mud.
Around 4 a.m., the various companies nevertheless began to move towards the starting line. Bombardments claimed their first casualties. At 5:30 a.m., the attack began. The troops were normally supposed to advance under the cover of a barrage, but in some cases, the shells fell behind the attacking troops. Nevertheless, the 20th Battalion succeeded in capturing the positions near Defy Crossing, Nieuwemolen, and Daisy Wood. Meanwhile, the attack of the 17th Battalion also began, passing through the troops of the 20th Battalion, resulting in several soldiers from the 20th Battalion advancing further with the 17th Battalion. The Australians succeeded in capturing Decoy Wood and Rhine and eventually advancing towards the final objectives. Just after 10 a.m., it was decided to withdraw to the first captured line and consolidate it. The attack on October 9 primarily had a devastating effect on “A” Company of the 20th Battalion. Their strength on September 29 was 97 men. On the day of the attack, this had been reduced to 50. When “A” Company marched back to Ypres on the evening of the attack, their strength had been reduced to only 1 officer, 1 NCO, and 4 soldiers.
The body of Harry Duff Badmington was found after the war between Defy Crossing and Nieuwemolen. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXIX, Row E, Grave 22.
Sources 3
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20th Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/37). 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, Badmington H D). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM 8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461789 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7347279 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=39c11720-1fb1-415b-a55b-dadbe9d3e16f |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=10147 |