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Married: 1925. Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:8275/1925
Wife: Margherita M L Cole. nee: McGrath.
Mother: Emmeline L Cole. nee: Jackson.
Harold James Cole enlisted on the 11th of August 1915 and was posted to A Company 9th
Battalion AIF at Warrick Farm as Company Sergeant Major until the 13th of October when he was
transfered to D Company 1st Battalion at Broadmeadow, Newcastle as Company Sergeant Major until
the 5th of January 1916 when Harold was allocated to to the newly formed 36th Battalion as the
original Company Sergeant Major to A Company with the service number: 1.
Harold was promoted to Warrant Officer 2 on the 6th of May and left Sydney on board HMAT A72
"Beltana" on the 13th May 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on the 9th of July and was admitted to
the Devonport Military Hospital. He was discharged on the 19th and was marched to the Durrington
Army Camp at Larks Hill. Harold was Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on the 12th of August 1916 in
England before proceeding overseas from Southampton for France on the 22nd of November 1916.
Harold was Taken on Strength in the field with the 36th Battalion and was promoted to Lieutenant
on the 21st of March 1917 and remained in the front line for nearly 3 months before attending
the 9th Australian Field Ambulance on the 7th of June where he was sent to the 53rd Casualty
Clearing Station before being admitted to the 8th General Hospital in Belgium suffering from a
Undecended Testicle on the 10th of June.
He was invalided to England on board the "Panama" on the 12th of June and admitted to the 3rd
London general Hospital the next day. After 2 months Harold was discharged to Australian Headquarters
at Persham Downs and placed on the seconded list on the 13th of August 1917. Harold was sent to
the Durrington Army Camp on the 30th of June and placed on the supernumery list on the 7th of
September. Harold proceeded overseas again for France on the 18th of January 1918 from Southampton,
England.
He was marched in from England to Rouelles, France on the 20th and rejoined the 36th Battalion
on the 23rd of January 1918 in Belgium. On the 30th of April 1918 the 36th Battalion was
disbanded and he was transfered to the 33rd Battalion with the bulk of the remaining men from
the 36th. Harold was Taken on Strength with the 33rd where he remained until the 3rd of September
when he was granted leave in England. He returned to France on the 20th of September and went to the
front line when on the 1st October 1918, the 3rd Division troops, some facing the Hindenburg Line, and
others like the 9th Brigade still facing the southern flank, found their front strangely quiet. At
2:00am the 33rd Sent out a patrol under Lieutenant: H J COLE to the
edge of the Bony, but failed to find any Germans. At daybreak parties of the enemy were seen retiring.
The Hindenburg Line was vacated. At this point the 33rd was relived and took no further part in the action.
The troops were billited at Citerene fo a well earned rest while the war raged on, but the end of the conflict
was in sight before the relentless, unstoppable alied advance. The fighting 33rd had fought it's last battle.
Harold returning the England on the 21st of April 1919 where he was posted to the Australian
Administration Headquarters in London. Harold returned to Australia on board the HMAT A32 "Themistocles" on
the 12th of June 1919.
Harold's ww1 compass and pouch were acquired from a militaria dealer from Geelong, Victoria in
July 2007 and are now in the collection.
Harold was a single 20 year old Driller from 5 Wayo Street, North Goulburn, N.S.W upon enlistment where he
lived with his father Thomas Cole and brother Harrold W Cole. Harold served with the 20th Infantry Battalion at Parramatta and the Senior
Cadets/Citizens Forces. He lived at "Yomerry" 76 Haigh Street, Maroubra, N.S.W in 1928.
Lieutenant: 1 Harold James COLE. (Middle Row, 5th from left.)
Harold James Dickinson Cole served as a Prison Warder and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal
(ISM) on the 24th of August 1955 after he retired on the 23rd of June 1955 aged 60. He was a
Senior Warder with the New South Wales Prison's.
Non-managerial Civil Servants who complete 25 years service are eligible for the Imperial Service
Medal (ISM) upon retirement. The medal is a silver circular medal bearing the effigy of the
reigning monarch on one side, and the motif of a naked man resting after work with the legend
'For Faithful Service' on the other side. The ribbon or bow pattern is the same as the Imperial
Service Order.
Harold was granted leave from the New South Wales Prisons on the 24th of July 1940. He enlisted with
the 32nd Australian Infantry Training Battalion at Maroubra with the rank of Lieutenant and service
number N21141. His Prison Records indicate he attended Amry Camp on from the 8th of September to
the 24th of November 1940 and from the 13th of June to the 12th of September 1941. Harold was
discharged from the army on the 26th of September 1943. Harold resumed duties as a Prison Officer
on the 27th of September 1943. There is a gap from 1943 to 1946 where there are no enteries on
his index card. (Rosie Jarrett, Archives Manager, Corporate Records and Archives Branch. N.S.W.
Department of Corrective Srevices) 31st July 2007.
Thomas and Emmeline Cole were married in 1891 at Sydney, N.S.W. Marriage Cert:397/1891 and
had 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl. Harold Dickinson Cole born 1893 at West Maitland, N.S.W.
Birth Cert:21453. Twin brother Thomas E Cole born at West Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:21454/1893
and died at birth ? at West Maitland, N.S.W. Death Cert:8777/1893. Harold James Dickinson Cole
born in 1895 at East Maitland, N.S.W. Birth Cert:23896/1895. Emmeline E Cole born 1899
at Redfern, N.S.W. Birth Cert:3599/1899.
(Australian National Archives)
UNDER CONSTRUCTION 16/07/2007-08/11/2010.
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