Harold Joseph Nankervis

Harold Joseph Nankervis was born in 1896 at Cudgewa, Victoria. He would be the seventh of eight children for John and Catherine, nee Storey, Nankervis. Unfortunately, their firstborn, Catherine Elizabeth, would die at the age of one at Wandiligong. Harold and his siblings attended the Wabba State School, with Harold gaining his merit certificate in 1911. Harold’s father, John, died at the age of 74 on March 19 1914, at Cudgewa. In 1917, Harold married Dorothy Irene Taylor

Harold enlisted on May 13 1918, at the age of 21, in the Australian Flying Corps. He was allocated Service Number 3550 and designated 2nd Class Air Mechanic, for which his skills as an electrician would have been welcomed. He embarked at Melbourne, Victoria, on the SS Zealandicon October 5 1918.

On the journey over, he was placed in the ship's hospital for eleven days, being discharged the day after the Armistice had been declared. Upon arriving in England on December 5, he was marched into the AFC Depot. In late January 1919, he transferred to the RAF Reserve Section at Blandford. Harold embarked on HT Swakopmund at Plymouth on Jun 15 1919, and sailed home to Australia.

One week after Harold embarked for Australia, a Major J.M. Lean at Base Records in Melbourne received a letter from Harold’s wife, Dorothy, who at that stage was living at 569 Lygon Street Extension, East Brunswick.

“Dear Sir,

I wish to ask advice from you in reference to my husband. I was speaking to a soldier that has just returned from the front and he informed me that my husband was contemplating going to the North of Russia but seeing by the press that no soldier is eligible with dependents in Australia, I thought it may be possible for him to get his discharge in England which I consider would be unjust to me. I have not received any correspondence from my husband for some time, and thought perhaps he has already gone North that same soldier also informed me that my husband has been transferred into the Royal Air Force. Trusting you will be able to enlighten me & thanking you for your kind attention.

I am dear sir

Yours truly

Dorothy Nankervis.”

Dorothy was referring to the establishment of the British North Russia Relief Force that was being formed to help fight the Bolsheviks. About 150 Australian soldiers enlisted in the British Army to fight. Two Australian soldiers won the Victoria Cross for their actions in North Russia. Harold was not one of them.

Upon returning from England, Harold continued to work as an electrician. In 1926, the couple, with their young daughter Kathleen, were living at 3 Darlington Grove, Coburg. Harold passed away on April 19 1954, at Parkville, Victoria. He was buried at Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, Victoria. Dorothy passed away in January 1975 and was also buried at Fawkner.