Local Heroes WW1

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Last Updated: Friday, 17 March 2017 21:04

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(Gun) Harold INGLIS

Gunner Harold Inglis 31220 a clerk from Exeter, Port Adelaide, South Australia prior to enlistment on 08 October 1916, with the Divisional Ammunition Column 5, Reinforcement 9, he embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Orontes on 19 December 1916.

Honours

Harold Inglis was entitled to wear Two ‘Wound Stripes’ on the left forearm sleeve of his tunic, Harold was "Wounded In Action" from Gas on 02/11/1917 in Belgium' He was wounded a second time on the 12/01/1918 with Gun Shot Wounds to the arms and legs. Sadly Harold never recovered and passed away on 19/01/1918 at the 14th Ausrtralian General Hospital, Boulogne France. From 336,931 Australians who embarked for overseas service (excluding the RAN), there were 155,133 ‘woundings’ (including gassing and shell-shock). There were 5,583 Australian soldiers wounded three times, 807 four times, 105 five times and 10 six times. One soldier is recorded as having been wounded seven times.  

Harold's mother Lizzie received a Memorial Plaque, Memorial Scroll, the 1914/15 Star Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal which were sent to her by Base Records Melbourne.

The 1914–15 Star is a campaign medal of the British Empire that was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of World War I against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915. The medal was never awarded singly and recipients were also awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The British War Medal 1914-1920 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for service between the outbreak of hostilities on 5 August 1914 and the Armistice on 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres up to 1920. Some 5.7 million medals in silver were issued throughout the British Commonwealth, of which 338,000 were awarded to Australians.

The Victory Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to members of British and Imperial forces for operational service only, between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, although eligibility was extended to include service in various theatres during 1919. Some 5.7 million medals were issued throughout the British Commonwealth – 336,000 were awarded to Australians.

International Commemoration

Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France - Wimereux Communal Cemetery contains 2,847, Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. Buried among them is Lt.-Col. John McCrae, author of the poem "In Flanders Fields." There are also five French and a plot of 170 German war graves.

The cemetery also contains 14 Second World War burials, six of them unidentified.

The Commonwealth section was designed by Charles Holden.

National Commemoration

Australian War Memorial Canberra - At the heart of the Memorial building is the Roll of Honour: a long series of bronze panels recording the names of over 102,000 members of the Australian armed forces who have died during or as a result of war service, warlike service, non-warlike service and certain peacetime operations.

Location on the Roll of Honour - Gunner Harold Inglis's name is located at panel 14 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial (as indicated by the poppy on the plan).

State Commemoration

South Australia National War Memorial on North Terrace "TO THOSE WHO NOBLY STRIVING NOBLY FELL THAT WE MIGHT LIVE"

Gunner Harold Inglis’s name is commemorated on the large honour rolls lining the walls of the crypt inside the South Australia National War Memorial on North Terrace, which was unveiled by the State Governor on Anzac Day 1931. Inside the crypt, bronze panels contain the names of the 5,511 South Australians who fell in the war.

Local Commemoration

The Semaphore War Memorial was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war, such as Gunner Harold Inglis.

The Semaphore War Memorial on the Esplanade was dedicated in 1925 to honour all of those from the district who fought in the war. A temporary ‘Memorial Arch’ of wood and iron was first erected at the entrance to the Semaphore Jetty bearing the banner title, ‘For King & Empire’. On 27 April 1924, four foundation stones for the new memorial were laid at the approach to the jetty – one on behalf of the citizens of Port Adelaide district, one for the RSSILA, one on behalf of the parents of the fallen men, and one on behalf of the widows and orphans.

Haralds Mother Lizzie would have attended the laying of these foundation stones in 1924 – with its immediate relevance to her. The stone for the parents of those who fell, such as Gunner Harold Inglis was laid by Mrs Magnus Wald. The late Magnus Wald had been owner of Glanville Hall, proprietor of the South Australian Stevedoring Company and member for Scarborough Ward 1898-00.

This foundation stone for the Semaphore War Memorial was laid at the approach to the jetty on 27 April 1924 by Mrs Magnus Wald on behalf the parents of those who fell. For Mrs Lizzie Inglis, this memorial honoured her son Harold who Died Of Wounds 19 January 1918.

They would of liked to have been among the several thousand people who attended the actual unveiling of the Semaphore War Memorial the following year.

The following year, a granite obelisk was erected on the foundation stones, with an electric ‘turret type’ clock and topped by a marble Angel of Peace with wings outspread. The local newspaper noted, “all the names of those who enlisted from the district or who made the supreme sacrifice cannot be placed on the monument” so it instead bears a simple commemorative plaque.

Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL

For the 2015 commemoration of the Anzac Centenary, the Semaphore & Port Adelaide RSL has created a virtual Honour Board listing the names of over 2,000 local men who volunteered to serve in World War 1. Among them are counted Gunner Harold Inglis  a clerk from Exeter, Port Adelaide who served in the AIF Divisional Ammunition Column 5 in France.

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