Harold Charles PITT

Regimental number595
Place of birth Magill, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressJohn Street, Payneham, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 5"
Weight137 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Louisa A Pitt, John Street, Payneham, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil (exempt area under Compulsory Military Training scheme)
Enlistment date5 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll2 July 1915
Place of enlistmentKeswick, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name32nd Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/49/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 18 November 1915
The 32nd Bn (Headquarters, Signallers, A, B, C, and D Companies) embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on two ships, HMAT A2 'Geelong', on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 'Katuna', on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialFromelles (Pheasant Wood Cemetery (Plot IV, Row D, Grave No 4), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
121
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Charles and Louisa Ann PITT, John Street, Payneham, South Australia
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Adelaide, 18 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Identification disc received from Germany (German Death List, 4 November 1916). No particulars were afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION 20/7/16.

German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr, Sold. Pitt, H.C. Erk. Mrk. 595. 32.Bn. B. Coy am 19.7.16 in Gegen Fromelles gefallen.'

Note on Red Cross File No 2160804: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'

Originally listed as 'No Known Grave' and commemorated at V.C. Corner (Panel No 6), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles; subsequently (2010) identified, and interred in the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, PITT Harold Charles
Red Cross file 2160804