Harold Richmond Parnaby

Harold Richmond Parnaby was born in 1896 in Corryong, Victoria, to Herman and Mary Maude, nee Richmond. Herman was the proprietor of the Corryong Courier before moving to Rochester, where he took ownership of the Rochester Express. 

On 29th June 1915, he enlisted at Melbourne, Victoria. At the time, he was a single, 19-year-old Bank clerk from Rochester, Victoria. Due to his age, his father had given his consent to Harold’s enlistment. He was allocated Regimental Number 2250 and placed in the 4th Reinforcements of the 24th Battalion. After initial training, he embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata at Melbourne, Victoria, on 27th September 1915.

After arriving in France, he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Pioneers on 4th March 1916. Two days prior to this, Harold had reported being sick with aches and pains all over. He had previously been feeling off colour for two or three days.  He was admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital on 2nd March 1917, where he was diagnosed with trench fever. On 13th April of that year, he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford in Kent. After further examination, it was found that Harold was unfit for General Service and was to be shipped back to Australia.

On 23rd May 1917, he returned to Australia aboard Hospital Transport A33 Ayrshire, with the rank of Private. He was discharged on 28th August 1917, being awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service during the war.

The Rochester Express, his father's newspaper, reported on the 5th February 1918 that “After spending over two years with the colours, Pte. Harold Parnaby was invalided home last July, and got his discharge, after which he resumed his position as ledgerkeeper in the local branch of the Union Bank. he has now been transferred to the same position in the Stawell branch, which is a promotion.”

He married Violet Jean McDouglass in 1925. The couple would have two daughters. Tragically, their eldest daughter, Norma, passed away in 1947 at the age of 16.  Harold passed away on the 20th June 1971 at Glenroy, Victoria and was buried in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria.