Harry Cathie was born at Queenscliff in Victoria on the 15 Jan 1892. His mother was Kate and his father, John Cathie. John Cathie worked with the Postal Department and died in 1895.
Harry was working at the State Saving Bank of Victoria as a clerk when he signed up in 1915 and living with his mother, Kate, and his brother Harold at 74 Gipps Street in East Melbourne.
He was a small man 5'4'' tall weighing 9 stone 5 pounds. He enlisted on 20 July 1915 in Melbourne and spent time at Seymour Training Camp with 24Batt. 7th Refits
On 26 November 1915, he embarked ex Melbourne on HMAT Commonwealth and disembarked in Eygpt.
On the 24 February, 1916, he was taken on strength with the 8th Battalion and proceedsedto join the BEF ex Alexandria on the SS Megantic. He disembarked at Marseille on the 31 March 1916.
On the 24 March he was admitted to the 12 Casualty Clearing Station where he stayed until the 2 May 1916, rejoining his unit, the 8th Battalion on 4 May 1916
According to the 8th Battalion War Diaries, they were positioned on the front line in trenches near Fleur Baix from the 15 May 1916 until the 29 May 1916. During this time they came under heavy German shelling between days of little activity.
On the 29th May 1916, the 8th Battalion was relieved by the 6th Battalon and returned behind the trenches to Fleur Baix.
The War Diaries state that during this tour in the front line the Battalion suffered 12 killed and 16 wounded.
Harry Cathie was one of these killed, dying on 29 May, 1916. He was buried at Y Farm Military Cemetery at Bois Grenier, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France.
His mother Kate was granted a war pension of 2 pounds a fortnight on the 30 August 1916.
His worldly possesions when he was killed were: Disc, safety razor, pipe, torch, tobacco pouch,pocket book, 2 envelopes, French book, pipe lighter, pencil, knife and his leather belt. He was 24 years old.
Harry Cathie is remembered in at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, in the Roll of Honour cards 145. His name is written on Panel 52 in The Commemorative Area.
Rest in Peace, Harry.
Australian National Archives, Service Record
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
Peter Fielding