Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
ABD Harold Snape, wearing the cap badge of the Royal
Australian Naval Bridging Train. Courtesy of Walter J R Barber.
Snape H J ABD 145 Harold John 1 RAN Bridging Train 21 Draughtsman Single Christian Scientist
Address: Essendon, Buckley St, 91, "Belmiers"
Next of Kin: Snape, John Thomas, father, "Belmiers" 91 Buckley St, Essendon
Enlisted: 24 Mar 1915
Embarked: A39 Port Macquarie 4 Jun 1915
Relatives on Active Service:
Snape-R-O-Pte-8651 brother
For information about the 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train, see http://www.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/1st-royal-australian-naval-bridging-train
Date of death: 19/08/1918 Lieutenant 47th Bty. 12th A.F.A. Bde
CWGC: Son of John Thomas and Rosina Snape, of 179, Rathmines Rd., Auburn, Victoria, Australia. Native of Melbourne, Victoria.
- ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN
- After being evacuated from Gallipoli, Harold met up with his brother Robert who arrived in Egypt
- in 1916 with the Field Ambulance. Here they enjoy sightseeing at the Pyramids. Courtesy of
- Walter J R Barber.
-
SNAPE - Officially reported died gas-poisoning on 19th August, at 8th General Hospital, France Lieutenant Harold J Snape, dearly loved second son of John T and Rose Snape, and beloved brother of Robert (on active service) and Frank Snape, of "Belmiers," Buckley street, Essendon. Three years and five months' service.
Family Notices. (1918, August 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1. Retrieved December 7, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1401824
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Lieut. H. J. Snape, brother of Mr. F. Snape, of "Belmiers," Buckley street, Essendon, died of gas poisoning on 19th August, at 8th General Hospital, France. He had been on service for 3 years and 5 months.
ROLL OF HONOR. (1918, September 5). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved August 10, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74607076
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Harold Snape's Diary, 1915 - 30 Apr 1916
https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/57fc8f6bd0cdd12c4077a754
Transcribed by Bob's grandson, Walter J R Barber.
Extracts from Harold Snape's diary mentioning men he knew who were from the local area of Essendon and Flemington. Harold's brother Bob is mentioned throughout.
1915
- Sunday Sep 5 " Schank, Michaelson, Wood & Smith hit with shrapnel about 10-30a.m."
- Monday Sep 6 "Shells in amongst us. Perkins killed. Lonie wounded."
- Friday Nov 24, "Went to see Australians (across harbour). Saw Bill Ellis’ brother & Harry Manners
1916
- Saturday Jan 1 "W. Mudros. Cold & a bit wet. Saw Ted Salamon"
- Sunday Feb 6 "Leave from Midday. Went up the Minarets of Mosque. 2 letters from Bob. Bugle finished up."
- Saturday Feb 12 " Caught 10 a..m. train to Cairo arr. About 2 p.m. Booked bed at Tewficks. Dinner at Samuel’s. Went out to Zeitown to Bob. Slept there. Saw Tom Watson. Met Jim Teolin in train going down. Met Len Tyzack & Bert Tilby* in Cairo. [*This might be Birtram Tilley whom he would have known from Christ Church, Essendon].
- Sunday Feb 13 "Met Bill Halme. Went to C.S. Christian Science Church with Bob at Heliopolis then into Cairo for dinner then the Pyramids back stayed at Hotel Splendid 10 PT. Arrival of Xmas presents for Navy men from Aust."
- Saturday March 11: "Worked all last night to 3 a.m. this morning. Walked out to (?) Moasha. Saw M Wight, John Birrell, L. Murrall, F. T. Spencer."
- Tuesday 4 April: "Request to go to Cairo: Refused, but leave to look for a transfer granted from 1 to 11 p.m. Found spot: 12th Brigade Artillery (a Vic. Brigade) had left Tel-el-kebir for Serapeum, so went to Serapeum by 2 p.m. train & got a letter from a Captain saying he would accept us. Walked along siding rails to NBT camp on Canal & had tea. Came back & caught 7-30 p.m. train to Ismailia. Supper in town & back in camp by 9-30 p.m".
- Wednesday 5 April: "Up before Bracie & transfer fixed up. Got a lift to the station in a motor lorry. Caught the 2 p.m. train. Walked from Serapeum to 4th Div. Art. HQ on Canal. Tea at NBT then walked back ½ ml on opp. side of railway to 12th Brigade. Slept under wagons. R.Bush, C Harrison, C. Lindley & H. Rice.
- Thursday 6 April: "Up at 5-40a.m. Ray B & I put into 12th Brigade 46th Battery. In tent with Thompson & Mountjoy. Kept out of the road as we were not on the roll. Alf Eades is a sergeant in our battery. (Corporals Green & Tanjo)."
- Saturday 30 September: "As usual. O.C. said I would go to 2nd Div. H.Q. as soon as bike was available, but I had to wait till about 8.30 p.m. & go on Cook’s cart. Arr. About 1o p.m. with gear. Seem a decent crowd. Coffee & cake for supper. Clocks put back an hour (end of summer). Lost 2Fr 20 centimes at 2 –up."
- Tuesday 28 November: 1st day back with Artillery, 46th Battery.
1917
2nd Lieutenant Harold Snape at Royal Artillery Cadet School,
St John's Wood, London, 1918. Courtesy of Walter J R Barber.
1918
- Thursday 25 July. "Strolled round. Alf Eades 45th. To B.H.Q. to see Col. Lloyd & Maj. Campbell. I was detailed to 47th, Moylan to 46th. Back to B.A.C. & stayed the night".
- Friday 26 July. "To 47th [Bty] about 10 a.m. Rained heavily. Had a look at horses & wagons, etc. Capt. Callinan came down & took me up with him via L. Lines. Cowderry & Edwards, Lt.s, decent chaps.
- Monday 29 July: "Ord. Off. last night & today. Fixed up a ----- (?) stock with Cowderry. To O.P. with (?), Waldron & was shown country by Capt. Callinan. Had a section of 112 guns onto a hedge (?) for about 40 rd.s Help for OX Rocket Post & O.P. exchange about 8 p.m. In an old house. Had dinner with Edwards at Tank gun close by. 2 Spooks & Corp’l."
- Thu 8 August: "Stunt started 4.20 a.m. I had L. X’n. Most successful. Prisoners & traffic on all roads. (Carl Ryan* buried here.) Finished at 8.30 a.m. & lay off. Bed about 8 p.m." *Carl Ryan, an old friend (cricketer & Methodist choir member) from Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, referred to in Harold’s last letter, dated 12th August 1918.
- Harolds last letter, included here: BOB PT 5 July toAug 1918.pdf page 4. 12 August 1918. "Poor old Carl Ryan is buried just here. He was killed in a stunt a few months ago. His grave was just a few hundred yards behind our guns. There is a wooden cross on it and some white stones and a rough fence around it".
A certificate of appreciation presented to Harold by the City of Essendon
on his enlistment. Courtesy of Walter J R Barber.
Harold's lovingly maintained grave at Rouen.
Courtesy of Walter J R Barber.
War Service Commemorated
Essendon Town Hall R-Y
Christ Church Roll of Honour*
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours
Regimental Register
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