Henry Compow

Born near Gundagai in New South Wales, Henry William Kong Pow and his brothers and sisters were second-generation Australians whose grandparents had immigrated from China decades earlier. Henry worked as a farm labourer before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 9 January 1916. Using the altered name of Compow, he joined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion at the age of 21.

Two months into his military service he was caught pilfering from other men’s lockers, and was sentenced to three months hard labour. Once he had completed his sentence he reapplied to join the AIF, and in June 1916 he was allotted to reinforcements for the 3rd Battalion.

After spending much of early 1917 in hospital for skin conditions including scabies and impetigo, Henry rejoined his battalion in July. By that time, the 3rd Battalion had already fought in major battles on Gallipoli, and in the Somme Valley in France. The year 1917 saw the men face increasingly difficult conditions around Ypres, on the border of France and Belgium.

The unit diary for September describes days spent training in weaponry and gas drills, through dull, windy, and wet conditions. The entry for 19 September states that the men were in “good spirits, and thoroughly rested” prior to offensive operations which commenced the next day. The men were ordered to march out with their greatcoats, waterproof sheets, and food rations.

Over the next few days, the battalion experienced heavy shelling, and faced enemy snipers who were difficult to locate. Over 100 Australians were killed or wounded, including Henry, who was listed as killed in action on 20 September. He was 23 years old.

After Henry’s death, his mother, Jane, wrote to request a copy of Henry’s will, in which Henry left all his belongings to his mother. His father, also named Henry, was listed as next of kin, and received a package containing a testament, scissors, and a small diary.

Henry’s body was later exhumed and reinterred in the Hooge Crater Cemetery near Ypres. Jane initially requested that the following verse be inscribed on the headstone:

“Some may think he is forgotten,

Sometimes when they see us smile,

But little do they know the sorrow,

That little smile holds all the while.

Inserted by his loving mother and family.”

However, families could only submit a maximum of 66 letters (including spaces), to be inscribed in memory of their loved one. The following words were selected instead:

“In memory of our dearly beloved son & brother.”

A photograph of the grave was sent to the family.

References

Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 war, “3rd Infantry Battalion”, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356227 <accessed 16 April 2020>

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, “Private Henry William Compow”, 2020, https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/457750/compow,-henry-william/ <accessed 16 April 2020>

Discovering Anzacs, “Henry William Compow”, 2015, https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/browse/person/124501 <accessed 16 April 2020>

National Archives of Australia, service records, “Henry William Compow”, B2455: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3274702 <accessed 16 April 2020>