Private Harold Pye
2nd Battalion AIF
Service Number: 666
Born: 1891, Williamstown, Victoria
Died: 27 April 1915, Shrapnel Gully Gallipoli Turkey
Harold Hume Pye was born in Williamstown Victoria in 1891, the son of chemist and dentist William Henry Pye and his wife, Ada. The family moved to NSW and by 1901 William Pye had established his pharmacy and dental surgery at St Marys. Their children completed their education at St Marys Public School. Harold was also a dentist.
With the encouragement of his father, Harold Pye enlisted on 18 October 1914 and was allocated to D Company, 2nd Battalion. Pye embarked on A23 HMAT Suffolk on 18 October 1914 and arrived in Egypt on 8 December 1914. Pye underwent training in Egypt before embarking as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the Derflinger on 5 April 1915. The battalion took part in the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915 as part of the
second and third waves. Pye was killed in action on 27 April 1915 and was buried in the Shrapnel Gully Cemetery on the Gallipoli peninsula. There was a delay with notification and his the family were not officially notified until late July 1915. Barely a month later they would be notified of the death of their other son, Reginald, during the Battle for Lone Pine. William Pye served as Captain in the Dental Corps until 1917.
Memorial Details:
- Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli Turkey
- Honor Roll, Memory Park Penrith
- Honor Roll, St Stephen’s Church, Penrith
Sources:
- National Archives of Australia: B2455, PYE H H
- Australian War Memorial Roll of Honor
- Penrith City Library Biography files
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