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Henry Arthur Eade - Information

Henry was just five years old when he migrated to the colonies with his parents. Henry was born in Greenwich, England on the 10th of June 1887. The Eades settled down in the Macarthur area, where Henry attended Campbelltown Grammar School. He then attended the University of Sydney obtaining a Diploma in Economics and Commerce. He later resided at 10 Fairmont St, Eastwood in Petersham, with his wife Rosa. Henry supported his family working as a shipping clerk, and was blessed with a son, Arthur Raymond. When he was 34 years old, Henry decided to help the Mother Country enlisting in the AIF on the 18th of August 1915 in Holsworthy. He was posted to the 5th Battalion, and appointed Acting Corporal on the 11th of October. At Liverpool Camp in February, he attended a Training School as Acting Sergeant. Then on the 16th of March, he applied for a Commission and was subsequently appointed 2nd Lieutenant assigned to the 35th Battalion. Having said his goodbyes, he departed Sydney on the 1st of May 1916 onboard the HMAT Benalla.

Henry arrived at Plymouth in early July. While he was preparing his men for combat, Henry was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of August. In late November, he and his unit were transported to the Western Front in France. After hunkering down for the worst winter of the war, the Allies got a surprise when the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, a new defence system. The Allies were ordered to chase them, running into stiff German rearguard assaults. Here, Henry was wounded on the 11th of March 1917, when a bullet grazed his head. He was treated by the 11th Field Ambulance, and returned to duty the following day. The 35th Battalion then participated in the Battle of Messines in Belgium. At the end of September, Henry was transported back to England for duty with the 9th Training Battalion in Durrington. He was then promoted to Captain on the 15th of November, returning to France on the 1st of March 1918. A few days later, he left the Australian General Base Depot rejoining the 35th Battalion. He was then severely wounded in action on the 2nd of April helping to halt the Germans at Villers-Bretonneux. A bullet perforated his abdomen and spine. He was rushed to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen. Sadly, there was too much damage, and Henry was in grave pain. He died of his wounds at Rouen on the 5th of April. He was buried near the village, in the St Sever Cemetery.

Rosa was informed that her beloved husband was killed in action. To make matters worse, all his personal effects were lost at sea. The ship they were on, the HMT Barunga was torpedoed by the enemy in late 1918. In 1922, Rosa and Arthur Raymond moved to Rouaire on Gordon St in Eastwood.