Hearle, Harry Joseph
No.7485 – Private Harry Joseph Hearle – 11th Battalion
Harry was born in Port Adelaide South Australia on the 28th July 1894. Around the turn of the century the family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Bellevue Terrace Fremantle. Harry was educated at Beaconsfield State School and after leaving school he took an apprenticeship with J Forbie, a tailor in Quarry Street Fremantle. This apprenticeship was of five years duration after which Harry qualified as a tailor. During this period Harry was granted an exemption from serving in the Citizen Military Forces.
Harry continued with his work as a tailor through the early war years and by May 1915 news came through about his Brother Ernie’s death on Gallipoli.
Nearly two more years passed before Harry enlisted in the AIF. On the 14th March 1917 Harry went to the Fremantle Drill Hall to offer his services to the AIF. The medical examiner found him to be fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as; 5 feet 8 & ¾ inches in height; weight of 135lbs; chest measurement of 32-34 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and black hair.
Harry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was immediately assigned to the 25th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next three months and in May news came through to the family that Herbert had been killed in France. Thus the two Hearle boys in France had been killed but Harry and his brother Charlie would soon also be in action on the Western Front.
On the 29th June 1917 Harry and his reinforcement group entrained for Fremantle where they boarded the HMAT Borda and set sail for England, disembarking in Plymouth on the 25th August 1917. Harry was then sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp and he would spend the next few months training on the Salisbury Plains. On the 7th November Harry transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny and he would remain in this camp for the next two months. On the 16th January 1918 Harry left camp in a draft of soldiers bound for Southampton where they boarded a troopship and set sail for France. Harry only had a few days in the base depot in Etaples as on the 22nd January 1918 he was taken on strength of the 11th battalion.
The 11th Battalion were then situated in the southern Belgian sector and on the 7th February Harry was evacuated ill to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance. He rejoined his unit on the 18th February but a week later on the 25th February he again fell ill. He was sent to hospital in Etaples for treatment and he would spend three weeks at the 54th General Hospital. Harry was sent to a Convalescent Depot where he would spend several more weeks. Harry eventually rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 25th May 1918.
The 11th Battalion were then in the Meteren sector of northern France. On the 3rd June Harry was exposed to German gas shells so he was evacuated to the 35th General Hospital. Fortunately it wasn’t a severe case of gas poisoning and after a few more weeks in the convalescent camp Harry returned to the 11th Battalion on the 12th July 1918. The 11th Battalion were still in the same sector and Harry spent the next few weeks with his unit also participating in the capture of Merris.
On the 29th July Harry again fell ill and sent to the 3rd Field Ambulance. He was then transferred to the 1st ACCS where he was classed as ill but NYD (Not yet determined). Harry was then put on an ambulance train for the 10th Canadian Stationary Hospital. The illness isn’t specified in his records but it must have been severe as Harry remained in this hospital until the end of August 1918. He rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 12th September 1918 just in time for their last offensive in the war. On the 18th September the 11th Battalion launched what would be their last attack in the war and it was successful though unfortunately a few original members of the unit were killed. Harry was wounded in the face and after treatment at the 1st Field Ambulance he was sent to the 25th CCS and he was then put on an ambulance train for Rouen where he was admitted to the 6th General Hospital. The wound wasn’t too severe but it would necessitate a few weeks in hospital. Harry rejoined the 11th Battalion on the 19th October 1918.
He remained with the 11th Battalion for the next month and was able to celebrate the Armistice with his unit. On the 19th November Harry was detached for duty with the Australian Provosts. This duty took him to England where he was stationed at Tidworth and then Warminster. He was also given the provisional rank of Corporal. Harry would remain in England on duty with the Australian Provosts until April 1920.
It appears he married while in England during this period as his next of kin was changed from his mother to his new wife who lived in Gloucester.
On the 16th April 1920 Harry and his wife Ellen boarded the HT Hororata and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 26th May 1920. Harry was discharged from the AIF on the 2nd August 1920. Harry took up employment as a Tailor and the family would set up house in Fremantle and then in the 1930’s moved to Commonwealth Avenue in North Perth. His first son Herbert was born in 1920 and Leslie in 1924. Both sons were born in Fremantle.
Harry would also serve in WW2 with the Swan battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps (W48131). Two of his sons would also serve; Leslie in the Royal Australian Navy from 1942-46 and Herbert in No.2 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force. Unfortunately Herbert (pictured) was shot down over Timor in April 1942 while flying a Hudson aircraft. He had been able to bail out but had been wounded and the Japanese quickly captured him. The Japanese executed him on the 8th May 1942.
After WW2 was over Herbert’s remains were found and he was buried at the Ambon War Cemetery.
Harry Joseph Hearle died on the 28th October 1955 aged 62.