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Private Alfred Gordon Harwood

Alfred Gordon Harwood.jpg
Private Alfred G Harwood
Eileen Harwood
Harwood postcard
Private Harwood cross

‘…a sniper shot at him. He called out “missed!” and the next minute another shot killed him. I saw him lying dead’.

           Private Bulmer 763A recalled the death of Private Alfred Harwood on 10 July 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Alfred Gordon Harwood 

Alfred Gordon Harwood was born in South Hobart. On 24 August 1915 in Sydney, New South Wales, at the tender age of 18 years and six months, he enlisted for service.  Private Harwood served in Egypt and France.

During the war, Private Harwood suffered from bronchitis and was admitted to hospital in Egypt on 14 April 1916.  He was also admitted to hospital with diphtheria on 26 April 1916.  While serving with the 20th Battalion in France, Private Harwood was hospitalised with laryngitis on 16 December 1916.

The boggy, muddy conditions of the trenches resulted in Private Harwood being diagnosed with trench foot, a fungal infection brought on by prolonged exposure to damp, cold, and unsanitary conditions, on 30 December 1916.    On11 January 1917, Private Harwood was admitted to hospital in Rouen, France, and then invalided to the County of London War Hospital, in England, with severe trench foot.  He was discharged from hospital on 6 February 1917.

Anxious wait 

Back in Australia, Alfred’s sister Eileen Harwood corresponded with family members who were serving aboard.  The war was a difficult period, as Eileen explained in a letter she wrote to the Officer of Base Records in Melbourne on 9 February 1917:

“…it is such an anxious time waiting for news, I have my three only brothers serving with the AIF abroad”.

                  - Eileen Harwood, Ashfield, NSW

 Private Harwood (nicknamed Harry) corresponded with his sister, Eileen, during the war.

   

No Man's Land

Private Harwood returned to France and served with the 20th Battalion.  He was killed in action at Villers Bretonneux, in France, on 10 July 1918.   According to Private G. H. Adams, Private Harwood was “…just coming into the post from No Man’s Land where he had been reconnoitering when he was shot in the head”. 

Private Harwood, aged 21, was originally buried at Villers Bretonneux on 19 July 1918. His brother, Patrick, who was also serving in France, was informed of his death and shown Alfred’s grave. 

On 27 April 1920, Eileen Harwood was advised by the Major Office in charge of Base Records that her brother’s remains would be exhumed and re-interred at Crucifix Corner British Cemetery “one mile South South East of Villers Bretonneux”, and that “this work would be carried out with every measure of care and reverence in the presence of a Chaplain”.

Alfred Harwood’s brothers Thomas William Harwood of the 40th Battalion, and Patrick Harwood of the 20th Battalion, both returned to Australia.

Marriage to an ex-serviceman 

On 13 November 1920, Eileen Harwood married Russian-born interpreter Samuel Bortzell, who enlisted with the 17th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force on 30 January 1915 and served at Gallipoli and in France.  After a bomb exploded near Private Bortzell at Gallipoli on 4 November 1915, he was unable to speak or see for days.  He was also wounded in action while serving in France.