Emily Florence COKER

Other Events and Attributes:

• _FGRAVE: 160444474
• Residence: 1903, Albert St, North Perth, Western Australia
• Residence: Jan 1920, 115 Chelmsford Rd, North Perth, Western Australia
• Residence: Feb 1924, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
• _FNRL: 23 Aug 1946, North Rockhampton Cemetery, Queensland, Australia

Notes:

Florence had a male child Francis born 5 Jan 1881 and died 3 Feb 1881 in Qld.
Florence married Albert Card 6-4-1882 and moved to Perth at some point after 1882 as son Harold was born in NSW.
There is a postcard dated 1902 from W.F.Card with an image of who must be a Card relative because an image Harold Card taken around 1914 bears a striking resemblance to the man in the 1902 postcard. So perhaps W.F.Card is the person in the image and may be a cousin or uncle to Harold.
The card reads: To dear Lily from her affectionate Boy W.F.Card 28.11.1902 May you spend a very bright and happy Xmas. (Note, this doesn't really help because we don't know who Lily us)
There also exists another postcard which shows St Martins Le Grand (London) addressed to Master Harold G.B.Card John Street North Perth Western Australia. It reads: Am surprised no letter from you. Arrived here on Monday last; received baptism of London fog on Tuesday. Wish you all Merry Xmas & Happy New Year. Keep Cool. Write. Dad.*
Albert Card left his wife and son in Australia and went back to England. They divorced some time later.

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Birth:
Emily Florence Coker listed as
Cokely Limehouse Jan/March quarter 1862 Ref: 1c-583
(From Coker London Research group June 2004)

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_FNRL:
PRIVATE INTERMENT: THE Relatives and Friends of the late Mrs EMILY FLORENCE CARD are Informed that she was laid to rest in the North Rockhampton Cemetery on Friday, 23rd August, 1946.The funeral moved from our Funeral chapel, William Street, at 3 o'clock.
Family Notices. (1946, August 24). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56400379

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Died:
From North Rockhampton Cemetery index:
CARD, EMILY FLORENCE, aged 84, F, died Thursday, 22 August 1946, buried Friday, 23 August 1946 section 15 row 1 grave 45 Denom: CONGREGATIONAL

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Family/Spouse: --?--. --?-- was born in UNKNOWN; died in UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Emily married Albert CARD on 6 May 1882 in North Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. Albert was born in Jul 1851 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, UK; died in 1921 in England, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _MILT: 1918; 43rd Battalion, Australian Infantry

Notes:

After Harold's death in WW1 his mother had a card printed which included an image in his army uniform with the following words:
In loving memory of my dear son Harold G.B.Card 43rd Battalion killed in action "somewhere in France." August 22nd, 1918. aged 26 years 5 months.
They have laid our son down to rest
In the flag with the Southern Cross,
And we mourn for him as one of the best,
For his death was Australia's loss.
He has sailed on his last commission
To that beautiful place called rest,
And his head is gently pillowed
On the Great Commander's breast.
Deeply mourned -
Inserted by his loving mother.

Birth:
Registration Number: 32871/1892 Last Name: CARD Given Name(s): HAROLD G B Father's Given Name: Albert Mother's Given Name(s): Emily F
District: ST LEONARDS

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DOB recorded as 27 Mar 1892 in Western Australia Railway records.

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_MILT:
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.

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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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Died:
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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