Trevor Keightly writes about Tiaro's Son Stewart Malcom Harrod

Historian and author Trevor Keightly

Historian Trevor Keightley writes a column called Tiaro’s Sons in the Gundiah Gazette. He claims he became interested in these people from this era of history by mistake, stating that in fact he did not have a great interest in history previously.

The Bauple Museum  became his charge when the president of the day resigned. The newsletter emerged when the Gundiah Community Place thought the Museum could have a go at writing stories about past events. “From that we realized that history had better and more interesting stories for readers if produced in this format,” Trevor reflects.

The historical research is currently focussed on Museum records and Trevor continues “when we run out of them we will be knocking on doors for access to family histories.”

Each month, Trevor picks a family or individual and researches his records for stories that he thinks will interest the readers. Trevor has worked with Lillian Coyne, the Museum founding member. He says, “She has pointed me in the right direction.”

One of Tiaro’s Sons that Trevor has written about is Stewart Malcom Harrod; Private 5836 AIF Regiment  

Stewart was the second son of Malcolm John Harrod and his first wife, Catherine Newell Chapman McDuff.  He was born 29 April, 1898, at Eidsvold where his father was involved in gold mining. He was the younger brother to Rayleigh (b.1896). Sadlly, their mother died when Stewart was one year old. Rayleigh and Stewart attended Teebar West Provisional School. In 1913, the family moved to”Ulirrah” Gunalda.

When war #WWI was declared, Rayleigh volunteered, closely followed by his cousin Lancelot. Stewart had to wait until he was 18 and enlisted nine days after his birthday - 8 May, 1916. After initial training, he embarked on the “Boonah” for the three months trip to England arriving January, 1917.

Do you know anyone who embarked on this boat?

A year after his enlistment #qanzac100 and a bout of Mumps and Measles, he landed in France and finally saw action 12 June, 1917. Following this, he was admitted to hospital for Pyrexia (fever) and finally he re-joined the fight on 26 August, 1917.

Twenty-six days later he was killed near Polyygon Wood. Private Philips of Gootchie stated, “I saw him wounded by shrapnel. I bandaged him up, made him as comfortable as I could, but he passed away after five hours. He was a neighbour of mine, we lived in Maryborough.”#Maryborough

Can you imagine how he would feel?

Hearing of his death the family members enlisted as nursing sisters. They later re-enlisted for World War Two. #WW2

Would you have done this?

Stewart was awarded the Victory Medal, 1914/1915 Star of the British War Medal. He is buried in the Huts Cemetery Dickebusch, Belgium–A brave lad who did his duty.

LEST WE FORGET.

Please tell us your stories of World War One and Two.

The information in this blog entry has been copied with permission from the Gundiah Gazette.

Accessed online:  http://www.gundiahgazette.com.au/pdf/GG-15-03s.pdf

Tags: #WWI #WW2 #Maryborough #qanzac100 #FraserCoastLibraries