Lane, Harrie

6344 Harrie James Lane – 28th Battalion AIF & WX35487 8th Casualty Clearing Station

Harrie James Lane was born in Redfern New South Wales on the 28^th February 1901 to Mr. and Mrs. George Lane. The family soon migrated to Western Australia where they took up residence in Fremantle. Harrie’s father George worked in the Naval Office in Fremantle and so much of Harrie’s life was spent around the Port City. He attended Fremantle Boys School and was also a member of the Royal Australian Naval Cadets.

The family also lived in Wardie Street South Fremantle for a time.

After leaving school Harrie found work as a deck hand on the boats in the Harbour, and also became a member of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. Harrie was only 16 years old when he went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF on the 15^th August 1916. He put his age up to 18 and a half and this was accepted by the recruiters. The medical examiner passed Harrie as fit and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 8 & ¼ inches;

Weight:                                    124lbs;

Chest Measurement:              32-34 inches;

Complexion:                            Fresh;

Eyes:                                       Blue;

Hair:                                        Brown

Religious Denomination:         Church of England;

Distinctive Marks:                   Scar on forehead

After reporting to Blackboy Hill Camp, Harrie was allotted to No.82 Training Depot to learn the basics of soldiering. On the 18^th September he was then assigned to the 18^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion. He trained with his group in WA for the next few months while they waited for their departure orders to arrive. These orders came through towards the end of 1916 with the result that Harrie was able to spend Christmas with the family. However on the 29^th December he and his reinforcement group boarded the HMAT Persic and set sail for England, reaching Devonport Harbour on the 3^rd March 1917. After being disembarked Harrie was marched into the 7^th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Several days later; on the 15^th March Harrie was sent to Fargo Military Hospital suffering from bronchitis. He returned to camp on the 24^th March but four days later was readmitted to hospital. He then stayed in Fargo Military Hospital until the 9^th April when he returned to the 7^th Training Battalion. On the 23^rd April Harrie took two days unauthorised leave and after reporting back to camp was charged with being AWOL and was confined to camp for two days and fined 6 days pay.

Unfortunately Harrie would soon get in trouble again as on the 29^th May 1917 he was sent to the 1^st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford as he had contracted venereal disease. He would spent the next 37 days under treatment and in early July was sent back to the 7^th Training Battalion. On the 29^th July 1917 Harrie was put in a draft of soldiers leaving the 7^th Training Battalion and they proceeded to Southampton where they boarded a troopship for France. On arrival in France Harrie was sent into the 2^nd Australian Division Base Depot in Le Havre. He would spend the next two weeks here on final training and on the 15^th August he marched out from the depot to join the 28^th Battalion.

The 28^th Battalion were currently on a rest period out of the line when Harrie joined them but they were in training for the Third Battle of Ypres. The 28^th Battalion moved to Ypres in mid September 1917 and they took part in the Battle of Menin Road on the 20^th September and the advance towards Broodseinde & Zonnebeke in early October. On October 2^nd Harries was wounded in the breast by shrapnel. He was evacuated to the 3^rd Australian Field Ambulance for initial treatment and was then sent to the 3^rd Casualty Clearing Station. After more medical treatment Harrie was put on an Ambulance train for the 54^th General Hospital at Boulogne. He would spend the next several days here and on the 13^th October was taken to a hospital ship for the journey to England.

After his arrival in ‘Blighty’ Harrie was sent north and admitted to Northampton War Hospital. Due to the severity of the wound, Harrie would remain a patient here till the end of the year. Having largely recovered Harrie was then given a period of furlough after which he reported to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on the 5^th January 1918. Harrie would spent the next five months in this camp while he regained his fitness to return to the Western Front. On the 8^th May he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill though two days later he reported sick and was in the camp hospital until the 27^th May. His health had now improved and on the 12^th June Harrie was put in a draft of soldiers returning to France. After arriving at Le Havre he was sent into the Australian Infantry Base Depot. Three days later Harrie rejoined the 28^th Battalion in France. The Battalion had just seen action around Morlancourt so reinforcements were greatly needed.

In early July the 28^th Battalion moved to the Monument Wood sector near Villers-Bretonneux. They captured the remnants of the Wood in a smart raid. On the 18^th July Harrie got into serious trouble for disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer in the field. He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days of Field Punishment No.2. Sometimes the field punishment was carried out at the unit but Harrie was unlucky as he was sent to the Field Punishment Compound. As a result Harrie missed the 28^th battalion’s great advance on August 8^th, as he was only released from the punishment compound on the 22^nd August. Harrie eventually rejoined the 28^th Battalion on the 1^st September 1918 though he only remained a week with them as on the 8^th September he was transferred to the Australian Corps Working Party. Harrie remained with this working group until the Armistice, however even though the war was over the work continued for the Working Party. Harrie was in trouble again on the 26^th November 1918 for once again disobeying a direct order. This time he was awarded 14 days of Field Punishment No.2.

On the 9^th December 1918 Harrie left France and proceeded to England where he was admitted to No.2 Command Depot Camp. He stayed here for the next few weeks while waiting for a berth on a ship to take him home. On the 2^nd January 1919 Harrie boarded the HMAT Berrima and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 16^th February 1919. After a medical check-up at No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle; Harrie was discharged from the AIF on the 24^th March 1919.  He went back to work on the ships in Fremantle Harbour and in 1926 he married Doris Dimond.

Harrie had a career change between the wars and became a male nurse. This change would prove useful for when he enlisted into service for another war.

He was also serving in the Citizens Military Forces with the 13th Field Ambulance.

In World War Two, Harrie enlisted on the 9^th November 1942 and because of his medical training,  served with the 8^th Australian Casualty Clearing Station as a Warrant Officer. He had the regimental number WX35487. Harrie served at different army camps around the state, including Melville, Ascot and Helena Vale. He was discharged in September 1943.

After his discharged from the Army, Harrie resumed service as a Mental care nurse at the Claremont Asylum.

Harrie died on the 8^th May 1968 aged 67, his wife Doris had died the year before aged 63. Both were buried in the Congregational Section of Karrakatta Cemetery in plot FA0139.