HIRST, Harold (1883-1934)
Harold Hirst was born in Marsden, Yorkshire, England, on 14 June 1883. Harold Hirst was the son of Godfrey Hirst, Wool Merchant and Sarah nee Carter. He was enrolled at Geelong College as a day student on 26 July 1898. His address at enrolment was Mount Pleasant Road, Belmont.
He was educated at Geelong College, entering in 1898. He served for 5 years in the Cadets. After completing his schooling he worked in the woollen mills in Geelong.
He was married with 3 children and living in Geelong, when he enlisted as a Private in the AIF (No 502) on 27 August 1914, with the 8th Battalion (C Company). He embarked for Egypt and Gallipoli with the first contingent, on HMAT A24 Borda on 19 October 1914. He was wounded in action on Gallipoli by shrapnel in the leg, after being buried by a shell and was laid up for eighteen months, suffering a poisoned knee. At Anzac he was appointed to Lance-Corporal. He then went to France, where he transferred to the Army Pay Corps in England in September 1916, and became Pay Sergeant, 17th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, on 2 June 1917.
The 'Geelong Advertiser' reported that 'Mrs Godfrey Hirst has received a letter from her son, Sergt. Harold Hirst. He is well, and still on home service and has just been removed from Wareham, Dorset, to the Australian Imperial Force Headquarters Pay Office, Tidmouth. He is longing to go over to France, but his leg is too weak yet but he hopes he will soon be ready.'
He took the ‘Special 1914 Leave’, embarking on HMT Durham a week before the signing of the Armistice on 4 November 1918.
Harold Hirst died on 23 November 1934.
His sons, Herbert Godfrey Hirst (1903-1991) and German Carter Hirst (1911-1975 were both educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Geelong Advertiser 21 July 1917 p5; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 213 (citing Pegasus; National Archives).''