- Correspondence to Florence Card (nee Coker) regarding the death of her son Harold in France:
France, 3/12/18
Dear Madam. Your letter of 24th Sep. just to hand in which you ask for information re the late Pvte.
Harold Card. As I was doing duty with another company of that particular day, I was not actually with him when he was killed, but if you write to the O/C "A" Coy 43rd Btl (Captain J.J.Moran) he will give you more information that I can as to the place and nature of his death.
Speaking of Harold as a man and a soldier, I can say this (and for a long time he was continually with me, being my runner); as a man he was straight and good living and liked by all, and as a soldier he was always ready and fearless in his duty.
When the occasion arose, and it was necessary to get information sent back to headquarters, no matter what the risk, I always knew that so longs as he could moved the information would arrive where it was required. and no soldier can show greater devotion to his duty that to place it before his own life, and this Harold was always prepared to do.
His death was a loss the whole company, and I am sorry that I cannot give you the exact locality of his grave, but I am sure Capt. Morgan will give you all the information in that respect. His death was instantaneous.
In clonclusion, please allow me to express for myself and his comrades in the company, our deepest sympathy for you all to whom he was so dea. Yours sincerely, A.H.Dalziel, Lt.
3rd London General Hospital, 12 Sep 1918.
Mrs E.F. Card, Perth, W.A.
Dear Madam,
Returning health permits me to perform a duty which I feel is long overdue. Doubtless you have been already notified of your son's death in action on August 22nd.
On that day, the 43rd Battalion was advancing to attack near the town of Bray, north of the Somme. We were being heavily shelled, for we were under the observation of the enemy.
At about 7 o'clock in the morning a large shell burst among the section to which Pte Card was attached and he fell with a hopeless wound to the groin, dying almost
at once. Three others of the section were killed and three wounded. Unfortunately, I was myself wounded at this time and so cannot say exactly where your son was buried; but the cemetery will probably be very near the spot where he and so many of his comrades fell that day.
That is near a cross roads just half a mile north of Etinehem, now far behind our lines and out of range of all German shells. Pte Card was a good and brave soldier, esteemed by both officers and men throughout the Battalion, and one and all. We wish as we may to express our great sympathy with you in your sad loss. And yet we believe he
fell, as all brave men wish, advancing in the face of the enemy.
Frank W. Thomas, Lieut., 3 Platoon, "A" Coy, 43rd Btn. A.I.F
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- Name: CARD, HAROLD GEORGE BLANCHARD
Initials: H G B
Nationality: Australian Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Unit Text: 43rd Bn. Age: 26 Date of Death: 22/08/1918
Service No: 2299
Additional information: Son of Albert and Emily Florence Card, of 115, Chelmsford Rd., North Perth, Western Australia. Born at Sydney.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Memorial: VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1458904/card,-harold-george-blanchard/
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