Harry Thorpe was an Aboriginal soldier honoured for his courage and leadership skills during World War I. Research his military records to complete a short biography of Harry Thorpe.
Victoria
Lillian
Julia
two
Melbourne
British
Egypt
Private
7th
Belgium
first
courage
Military
‘bravery
2nd
corporal
fatally
9th
France
three
Harry Thorpe was born at Orbost in Victoria in 1887 to parents William and Lillian. When World War I He married Julia and had one son. Harry enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in February 1916 and within two months had sailed from Melbourne bound for war. He received just a fortnight’s training with the British Expeditionary Force in Egypt. Private Thorpe was then sent to fight on the Western Front joining the 7th Battalion. He would see action in both France and Belgium. Thorpe was shot in the leg in August 1916, the first of three times he was wounded during the war. He became known as a soldier who led his men with courage and by example. He was awarded the Military Medal for ‘bravery in the field’ in October 1917 and received his 2nd promotion, this time to corporal. Harry Thorpe was fatally shot on the 9th of August 1918. He is buried in Heath Cemetery in France. He had died just three months before the end of World War I.
Well done. Another Aboriginal soldier who served with distinction in World War I was William (Reg) Rawlings. Read his biography and you might recognise the name of his nephew. The family also includes a world champion sportsperson.
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