Hastings, Harold Richard
389 Private Harold Richard Hastings MM - 44th Battalion AIF
Harold Richard Hastings was born in Carlton Victoria in 1894 to John and Julia Hastings. The family came to Western Australia while Harold was still young and they took up residence in Fremantle. The family lived at 30 Alexander Road South Fremantle. (later renamed Wray Avenue)
Harold was educated at CBC Fremantle and also served in the 86A Cadets of the Citizens Military Forces. After leaving school he took up employment in the local area as a labourer.
On the 4th January 1916 Harold enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 & 1/4 inches tall;
Weight - 125lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Brown.
His father was listed as his next of kin was in Josephson Stret Fremantle.
After his successful enlistment Harry was sent to No.44 Depot at Claremont Camp. After a week he was posted to "B" Company of the 44th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next four months.
On the 6th June 1916 Harry and his Battalion boarded the HMAT Suevic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 21st July 1916. After being disembarked, the men were sent to the 3rd Division Training Camp on the Salisbury Plains, where they would remain for several months. It wasn’t until the 25th November 1916 that the 44th Battalion left Southampton England for the journey across to France.
After arriving they were sent to the sector around Armentieres where they would gain experience of Western Front life. The 44th Battalion remained in this sector for the next few months over the French winter.
The 44th Battalion soon moved from Armentieres in France to the Ploegsteert sector in Belgium. From March to August 1917 they would remain in this sector. In the first few months as well as the usual routines of trench warfare, the men also undertook trench raids on the German positions. The amount of raids seemed to increase, the closer it got to the start of the Messines Offensive. There had been over 20 mines dug beneath the German lines and on the given signal on June 7th 1917 these were exploded, devastating the German front line.
The 44th Battalion took part in the Messines advance as they were assigned the 2nd & 3rd objectives in their sector. These were successfully taken though casualties were heavy. Harry came through this period safely.
Towards the end of August 1917, Harry was appointed Lance Corporal.
In September 1917 the 44th Battalion moved to the Ypres sector and they would take part in the current offensive taking place there, seeing action at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.
Harry came through again safely and was then appointed to the rank of Temporary Corporal and in November 1917 the rank of Corporal was confirmed. A day later Harry was promoted to Lance Sergeant.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion helped to hold the front line south east of Ypres in the Hollebeke region. At the end of December Harry reverted back to the rank of Corporal at his own request.
On the 15th March 1918 Harry was granted a week's leave to Paris. While he was there, the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the British lines. The Australian Divisions were then sent south to the Somme to help stop this advance. Harry came back to his unit on the 23rd March 1918.
The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
Charlie and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. Harry came through this action unscathed and was again promoted to Lance Sergeant.
On the 8th August 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives. Harry was awarded the Military Medal for bravery, the official recommendation reads;
On the 8th August 1918 during the attack on the enemy's trenches east of Hamel, Lance Sergeant Hastings, when in charge of a small party, rushed a strong post and captured the garrison, consisting of 16 men. Throughout the operation he led his section with much bravery and skill.
The 44th Battalion advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne. On the 21st September Harry reverted back to Private at his own request.
By the 29th September 1918 the 44th Battalion were at the Hindenburg Line defences. The 44th Battalion was involved in the attack for the next few days but on the first day of their action Harry was wounded in the forearm by shrapnel and was then evacuated for medical assistance. After treatment at the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station he was sent on an ambulance train to Tronville where he was admitted to the 72nd General Hospital.
He was there for two weeks and then on the 14th October 1918 was sent to England by a hospital ship. He was then admitted to the 2/1st General Hospital in Birmingham. Harry was a patient here for the next five weeks and was here when the Armistice was announced.
On the 22nd November 1918 Harry was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He had five days here and was then granted a two week furlough.
When his leave period was over Harry reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Dartford but he was then transferred to No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. Harry would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 22nd January 1919 Harry boarded the troopship Demosthenes and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 22nd February 1919. After being disembarked Harry was then medically assessed at No.8 Australian general Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle.
Harry was discharged from the AIF on the 5th April 1919. He then returned to work at J Kitchen and Sons.
In 1920 in East Fremantle Harold married Elizabeth Dixon at St Peter's Church. They would have two children, Harold in 1922 and Frank in 1925.
In 1925 they moved to Lefroy Estate on Hampton Road South Fremantle then moving to 176 Hampton Road in the 1930's. They lived here through the 1940's and in 1950 moved to 206 Hampton Road.
Harold died on the 10th September 1962 in Fremantle WA aged 70. He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Congregational MOD D 0144.