Topic: AIF - 4B - 12 LHR
12th LHR, AIF
12th Australian Light Horse Regiment
Harry Rex George Coley
Harry Rex George Coley's name on the Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial
Harry Rex George Coley
Service number: 923
Rank: Lance Corporal [L Cpl]
Unit: 12th Australian Light Horse
Service: Army
Conflict: 1914-1918
Date of death: 31 October 1917
Cause of death: Killed in action
Cemetery or memorial details: PALESTINE 1 Beersheba War Cemetery
War Grave Register notes: COLEY, Lce. Cpl. Harry Rex George, 923. 12th Australian Light Horse. Killed in action 31st Oct., 1917. Age 22. Son of Harry and the late Frances Marie Coley, of Young, New South Wales. Native of Birmingham, England. D. 56.
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army.
A brief military biography of Harry Rex George Coley from The AIF Project:
| Regimental number | 923 |
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England |
| School | Wycliffe College, England |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 16 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | 'Truro', Raglan Street, Mosman, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Height | 5' 7.75" |
| Weight | 136 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Harry Coley, 'Truro', Raglan Street, Mosman, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | 4 June 1915 |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | 4 June 1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 12th Light Horse Regiment, 3rd Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/17/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 9 August 1915 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 12th Light Horse Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action 31 October 1917 |
| Place of death or wounding | Beersheba, Palestine |
| Age at death | 22 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 22 |
| Place of burial | Beersheba War Cemetery (Row D, Grave No. 56), Palestine |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 8 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Harry and Frances COLEY, Young, New South Wales. |
| Family/military connections | Brother: 289 Pte Carl Leslie Joseph COLEY, 12th Light Horse Regiment, returned to Australia, 23 September 1919. |
| Other details | War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine Transferred to 1st Light Horse Regiment, Gallipoli, 13 November 1915; after evacuating Gallipoli he disembarked at Alexandria, 11 January 1916. Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 18 January 1916 (janudice); transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, 18 January 1916; discharged to duty, 8 February 1916. Absorbed into 12th Light Horse Regiment, Heliopolis, 22 February 1916. Admitted to 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 8 March 1916 (mumps); discharged, 17 March 1916; rejoined unit, 17 March 1916. Detached to Kasr'l'Nil Barracks, 26 April 1916; rejoined unit, 7 May 1916. To Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun, 5 May 1917; passed Hotchkiss Gun Course as Gunner; rejoined unit, 17 May 1917. To be Lance Corporal, Fukhari, 20 May 1917. To Rest Camp, Port Said, 24 September 1917; rejoined unit, 4 October 1917. Killed in action, Beersheba, 31 October 1917 (gun shot wounds); buried, 1 November 1917. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, COLEY Harry Rex George |
Lest we forget
Further Reading:
12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF
12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of HonourThe Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917
Citation: 12th LHR, AIF, Roll of Honour, Harry Rex George Coley
