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Private Patrick Harwood

Private Patrick Harwood
Patrick Harwood with two women

 

Patrick John Harwood was born in Hobart on 1 April 1894. He enlisted with the 10th Reinforcements 20th Battalion at Holdsworthy, New South Wales, and left Australia on 11 March 1916.

On 30 May 1916, Private Harwood was taken on strength from Egypt to Étaples in France.  He was wounded in action on 29 July 1916 in France. He suffered shell shock (concussion) and was sent to Boulogne, where there was a tented hospital, and then onto England on 9 August 1916.

On 25 June 1917, Private Harwood proceeded overseas to France. He rejoined the Battalion in the field on 21 July 1917.

Private Harwood was again wounded in action in France on 20 September 1917. He suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder, thigh and face, and was sent to hospital in England.

Private Harwood marched into Havre, France, from England, on 5 March 1918, and marched out to the unit and rejoined.  That year, he served with the 20th Battalion in Belgium and France. 

While serving in France in 1918, Private Harwood was informed that his brother Private Alfred Gordon Harwood was killed in action at Villers Bretonneux on 10 July 1918.

Some eyewitnesses to Private Alfred Harwood’s death stated that his brother, Private Patrick Harwood, was aware of the death.  Private J Broadgate reported on 10 July 1918:

“I knew Private Harwood, A.1. his brother, Private Harwood is in A.2…I saw his grave in the open…in the Villers Brettoneux sector; there is a cross on it. It is near the ‘Diggers’ support lines. His brother knows the location. We held the ground. I could point out thespot.”

Private Patrick Harwood was recorded as a casualty with the Field Ambulance in France in August 1918.  He transferred to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen on 28 August 1918 until he was sent to England on 1 September 1918.

Private Harwood returned to Australia on 25 January 1919 on the “Ceramic”.  On the return journey, Private Harwood suffered from influenza and was hospitalized.

Private Patrick Harwood was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 8 May 1919 as he was medically unfit. 

Patrick Harwood’s other brother, Private Thomas Harwood, enlisted in Hobart with the 40th Battalion and also returned to Australia.