Colquhoun, Harold Robert

No.275 – Sergeant Harold Robert Colquhoun – 15^th Battalion AIF

Harold Robert Colquhoun was born in North Fremantle in 1896 to Robert and Isobel Colquhoun. The family were then living in John Street North Fremantle. Harold was educated at North Fremantle Primary School and then Scotch College in Claremont. When the family moved to Queensland he carried on his education at Rockhampton Grammar School. 

Harold had been involved in the military from a young age as during his time at Scotch College he served in their cadet program and in Rockhampton he joined the 1^st Light Horse Militia Regiment. After Harold left school he became a cadet trainer and school teacher. This career was interrupted however when he enlisted into the AIF.

On the 19^th September 1914 at the age of 18 years and 1 month old, he went to the Rockhampton Recruitment office and offered his services to the AIF. He was accepted as fit, with the medical officer finding Harold to be 5 feet 10 inches in height; 10 stone in weight; chest measurement of 33-37 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian.

At Enoggera Camp Harold was assigned to “B” Company of the 15^th Battalion AIF with the regimental no.275 and the rank of Sergeant.

After their initial training at Enoggera Camp, the 15^th Battalion travelled down to Melbourne to join up with the other battalions of the 4^th Brigade who had travelled from different states and more training took place. On the 22^nd December 1914, the 15^th Battalion boarded the transport ship H.M.A.T. “Ceramic” and made their journey over to Egypt where they arrived in late January 1915.

After arriving in Egypt the 4^th Brigade became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division, and they trained with their NZ counterparts in Egypt until April 1915. On the 12^th April they embarked at Alexandria bound for Lemnos Island off the Turkish coast where they joined soldiers of several nationalities, all waiting for the landing on the Turkish coast.

On April 25^th 1915 the landings took place with the Australians at Anzac Cove. The 15^th Battalion landed late in the afternoon and were sent to the crucial territory around Russell’s Top and Quinn’s Post. Along with the 13^th & 16^th Battalion’s they held this crucial ground for the first month of the campaign.

On the 29^th May 1915 at Quinn’s Post Harold was wounded in the chest. He was evacuated back to the hospital ship and sent to Egypt, where he was admitted to the Government Hospital. At one stage he was dangerously ill as a result of the wound but recovered quite quickly and on the 21^st July 1915 was sent to the convalescent camp. On the 1^st August 1915 he was transferred to the base depot and on the 17^th August embarked from Alexandria bound for Gallipoli. He was taken on strength of the 15^th Battalion on the 25^th August 1915.

The 15^th Battalion were then involved in an assault on Turkish positions at Hill 60 and on the 27^th August Harold was reported to be badly wounded during a charge. Only a few men came back from this charge, and as the whole area was under heavy Turkish fire, none of the wounded including Harold was rescued. He was initially reported as “Missing” and this was only changed to ‘Killed in Action’ when a Court of Inquiry was held in France on the 6^th April 1916. Unfortunately Harold’s remains were not recovered and he is therefore commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Harold’s Uncle also died in the war, Private Harold Mathews from Wagin WA served with the 44^th Battalion AIF and was killed in France in January 1917.