Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Bootmaker Harold Everingham, 22, was born in the Sydney suburb of Annandale. He enlisted at the RAS Showground Camp in July 1916. Shortly after, he married Vera, who lived in Hurstville and Granville during and after the war.
Private Everingham sailed on the Beltana on 25 November and arrived in Devonport, United Kingdom, on 29 January 1917. It is not clear why he spent the next six months in training camps and the ’school of musketry’ in southern England. He had a completely clear record: no crimes, diseases, sickness, wounds, or accidents.
Everingham had been in the AIF over a year before he was taken on strength of the 36th Battalion on the Western Front on 29 September 1917. He was killed in action 12 days later in the fierce battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. His body was never found.
As well as being honoured on the below memorials in Australia, the name 'Everingham H L' is inscribed on the Menin Gate, the British Memorial to the Missing in Ieper, Belgium. Everingham is listed along with four other Auburn Memorial men who died in the battle and whose bodies were never found.
Harold Everingham is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn Methodist Church First World War Honour Roll (three of his brothers are also listed on this memorial)
- Hurstville War Memorial
- Granville War Memorial Park
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
