Nugent, Harold Roy

No.3206 – Private Harold Roy Nugent – 51^st Battalion AIF

Harold Roy Nugent was born in North Fremantle WA in 1898 to Howard and June Nugent. The family lived in Jewel Parade North Fremantle and Harold was educated at North Fremantle Primary and James Street School in Perth. After leaving school he took up work as a Clerk in the Office of the Commissioner of Railways, during which time he also served as a Cadet in the 38^th Battery of the Australian Field Artillery. His elder brother Cyril had enlisted in late 1915 so after he turned 18 Harold went to his parents to sign their consent for his enlistment as he was still under 21 years old. His parents signed their consent and on the 3^rd September 1916 Harold went to the Francis Street Drill Hall in Perth to enlist in the AIF.

(Photo to right - Cyril & Harold Nugent)

He was passed as fit by the medical examiner who found him to be 5 feet 8 & ¾ inches tall; weight of 148lbs; chest measurement of 32-35 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Harry was soon sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 8^th Reinforcements to the 51^st Battalion. He trained with this group in WA for the next three months as they waited for their departure orders to come through. These orders finally arrived and on the 23^rd December 1916 Harry and his group boarded the HMAT Berrima in Fremantle Harbour and set sail overseas.

The sea voyage to England took almost two months as the ship finally berthed at Devonport Harbour on the 16^th February 1917. After being disembarked Harold and his group were sent to the 15^th Training Battalion at Hurdcott Camp on the Salisbury Plains. They remained here for just over two weeks and on the 6^th March 1917 they were transferred to the 13^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp. Harry remained training here for the next three months, though during this time the men were also given leave to see the sights of England.

It was until the 14^th June 1917 that Harry was put in a draft of men for France. Arriving at Southampton Harbour he boarded a troopship which took them across the Channel to France. After arriving at Le Havre; Harry was marched into the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot to commence on another period of training. He remained in camp for another two weeks and on the 3^rd July 1917 he departed the Base to join the 51^st Battalion, being taken on strength the following day. Unfortunately Harry was not fated to meet his brother as Cyril was then in hospital on the French coast and would be dead by the end of the month.

When Harry joined them, the 51^st Battalion were then in the vicinity of Messines and they would remain here until August 1917. In September they moved to near Ypres to take part in the current Offensive. On September 20^th the Australians fought at the Battle of Menin Road. This was a successful advance and the next phase of the assault occurred a week later on the 26^th September when the 51^st Battalion was involved in the capture of Westhoek Ridge near Polygon Wood. They gained their objectives by 8am and commenced to consolidate their position. At some point during the day Harry was killed in action. Unfortunately there is no report as to his death and it appears that his body was not recovered and thus he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

Both Harold and Cyril had plaques laid in the Kings Park Avenue of Honour by their mother in 1919.