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Snape H J-ABD-145

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 6 years, 11 months ago

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

  • Thursday 5 April 1917: "Hauled out 5 a.m. to go with Bdr. Noyes & 3 others to 5th Bde Hqrs. Walked to Vaux-Vracourt & wandered about till we finally got back without finding the joint at ½ past 8 a.m. Others sent on job. Went to Favreuil for water. Saw Dick & Jack Price, 4th Coy, 4th Div, Engrs 2 Section. Beautiful day. Left on limber about 7 p.m. to go up to move 2 guns. Took them thro’ Vaux about 2 mls. Open position. Back about 10.30 a.m. Lovely night. Canteen open today. Latrine afternoon".
  • Tuesday 1 May 1917: "Lobbed at pits at 3 a.m. Turned in in an old dugout. Teargas about. Up about 10 a.m. Met Grange Eaglesham from M[oonee] Ponds passing our pits about 8 p.m. last night. Had a yarn with him. He told me about Em. Toddy & a few others being married. He is 6th Batt. Carl Ryan is 60th Batt. ..........red............... red..............blue with O.C. to O.P. to register guns. Fritz started to shell valley & S.M. & Bob Hocking were wounded in head (the latter not expected to recover)".
  • Sun 21 October. "As usual. Church parade at Y.M.C.A. hut, Reninghelst. Neish & Harry Rice came over & spoke about N.B.T. going home. Fritz bombed at about 5 a.m. Stables 4.30 p.m".

 

 

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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