Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ for Egypt.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 28th Bn. 'D' Company, AIF.
Harman enlisted as a Private with 28th Bn. 7th Field Bde. He disembarked in Egypt and joined the MEF for Gallipoli. He became sick with a debility and was transferred back to Egypt  for embarkation back to Australia. He embarked per HT ‘Wiltshire’ for a change 25.9.1915. Harman disembarked in Melbourne and was admitted to  Longwarren Hopsital for treatment of a disability. He was discharged and marched into Broadmeadows 5.11.1915. Harman was givena new SN 4065 and allocated to the 12th Battalion, 12th Reinforcements.
Embarked Melbourne per RMS ‘Orontes’ for Egypt 24.12.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 12th Infantry Bn. 12th Reinf.
Harman disembarked in Egypt. After a period of training, he entrained to Alexandria, joined the  BEF and embarked per HT ‘Transylvania’ for France 29.3.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles 4.4.1916. He was hospitalised on arrival with a condition NYD (not yet diagnosed). Harman was later diagnosed with a debility and hospitalized at the 39th General Hospital at Havre 4.4.1916. He was discharged as fit for duty 21.7.1916. Harman was AWOL for 10 days (20.8.1916-30.8.1916). He was transferred to the 1st Australian Pioneer Bn. 6.9.1916 and taken on strength 7.9.1916. This Pioneer Unit fought with the 1st Division at Bullecourt and Messines in 1917. In September that year they were engaged in the Battle of Menin Road. (ANZAC Corps, Wikipedia) Harman was KIA in the field in Belgium during the Battle of Polygon Wood 21.9.1917.
He is Commemorated at the Memorial Belgian Battery, British Corner Cemetery, Belgium.(1 mile WSW of Ypres).
Final Rank Private/Sapper, 1st Pioneer Bn.
Medical Condition Dec’d, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              12th Bn. Observation post Gallipoli, August 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM P01436.003
              Attack on Polygon Wood 1917. Postcard by Colart Studio 1921, image  source AWM P0538.006
              Belgium Battery Cemetery, British Corner, West Vlaanderland, Belgium. Photograph source CWGC

Notes there is no evidence of this soldier’s family having received his medals  (from his military service file).  In 1919 his family requested permission to be sent his medals.

‘Never again to hear his voice,
Never again to see his face,
Our darling boy has paid the price
Of peace and liberty.
In the midst of the rattle of guns
In the midst of shot and shell,
With bursting shrapnel all around
That is where our dear one fell,
In the name of king and country.’
(West Australian Newspaper , In Memoriam 21.9.1917)

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P01436.003. 12th Bn. Observation post Gallipoli, August 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  P0538.006Attack on Polygon Wood 1917. Postcard by Colart Studio 1921, image  sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll- John Joseph Harman
AWM Roll of Honour- John Joseph Harman
CWGC. Belgium Battery Cemetery, British Corner, West Vlaanderland, Belgium. Photograph sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/8900/BELGIAN%20BATTERY%20CORNER%20CEMETERY
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Harman J J
Sunday Times West Australian Newspaper
1 ANZAC Corps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_ANZAC_Corps


Anstey Rd. West Guildford. WA.

Associated Images