Harold was born in 1897 in the small Victoria town of Kurting. His father was a school teacher.

He enlisted on 15 January 1916 at Melbourne; he was 18 year old, 5'7'' and working as a clerk. His service record is sparse and indicated he spent most of war in France. He was wounded in action in October 1916 and spent time in hospital for this wound and unspecified sickness in May 1918.

He returned to Australia on the SS Rio Negro ex-England on  29 May 1919 and disembarked at Melbourne on  27 July 1919. His discharged papers are dated 5 September 1919.

He was awarded the Military Medal on 17 June 1919.

In 1943 he was living in Sydney and was the secretary of the Apple and Pear Board.

After extensive research I can find no connection with East Melbourne.