| Accession Number | P07763.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital file TIFF |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London |
| Date made | 1917 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 7790 Private (Pte) Harold Egbert Strongman, 11th Battalion, of Norseman, WA. A ...
Description
Studio portrait of 7790 Private (Pte) Harold Egbert Strongman, 11th Battalion, of Norseman, WA. A miner who had previously been rejected for military service before enlisting in March 1917, Pte Strongman left Australia for England with the 26th Reinforcements in June 1917 and arrived in France for service on the Western Front in February 1918. Pte Strongman had been wounded in the face by shell fragments whilst the 11th Battalion was in the line in the Strazeele sector in July 1918 and was evacuated to Boulogne to recover. Rejoining his unit the following month, Pte Strongman was killed in action during the Anzac Corps' attack on the Hindenburg Outpost line near Hargicourt on 18 Septemebr 1918, aged 35. Accordong to a letter written by 6586 Chaplain James August Sanders, 11th Battalion, addressed to Pte Strongman's father (held privately by the donor): "I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy. I was with your son the morning...he was killed. We were standing together when a hand grenade, thrown by the enemy, struck him in the head. Death was instantanious. I deeply regret his untimely death. He had proved himself a brave gallant soldier who was highly respected by all. I hope you will find some consolation in your great sorrow in the knowledge that your son died in the common cause of national righteousness and for his country's honour".