WW1 history almost lost in fire sheds light on Western Front movements of Lieutenant Harold Charles Carne

A SMALL faded diary which was almost burnt 50 years ago during a clean-up of an old house captures the Carne family’s connection with World War I.

100 Stories of Anzac initiative. Blair Athol resident Bob Carne (pictured) with WW1 pictures and diary from his father, Harold Carne, who fought in the 1st World war. Picture Campbell Brodie.

A SMALL faded diary almost set alight 50 years ago captures the Carne family’s connection with World War I.

Lieutenant Harold Charles Carne, of Wattle St, Malvern, kept a diary detailing his time during the war, despite it being frowned upon at the time.

Top brass did not like soldiers keeping diaries as they feared personal information could be used against them if they were caught and interrogated.

However his son, Bob Carne, could not be happier his father broke the rules because the book had been an “incredible” way to find out about the past.

The 27th Battalion member recorded his every movement during the war, from leaving Adelaide on the HMAT Kanowna on June 24, 1915, to travelling to Oxford, England, for training in June, 1917, after serving near Moeuvres, France.

Harold Charles Carne (second left) wearing captured german hats and swords). Picture: Supplied.

Bob said the diary was saved from becoming ash after a clean up of his mother’s home at Mansfield Park after she died.

“Half this stuff I have got is only because the guy across the road saw some of the memorabilia that was ready to be set alight … and he thought I would like it so he grabbed it for me,” Bob said.

“His diary is so faded now so you can hardly read it, but a few years ago we went through it with a magnifying glass and copied it all out.”

Born in Samoa, Harold was a theology student before enlistment on May 13, 1915, and was believed to have been in charge of the Blackwood Methodist church prior to the war.

On his first voyage to the Middle East, he held the rank of corporal before re-embarking on September 4, 1915 from Alexandria, Egypt, to join his unit in Gallipoli.

According to his diary, he started fighting in the trenches from September 13,1915, where he saw planes brought down and was bombarded by the Turks on November 29,1915.

He was eventually transferred to France in July, 1916, where he was involved in the Battle of Pozieres

He was shot in the cheek during the attack on Bayonet Trench during the Battle of Flers, later suffered ‘trench feet’ and did not rejoin his unit until February, 1917.

Lt Harold Charles Carne. Picture: Supplied

Harold was later transferred to the 6th Battalion where his brother Captain Alfred George Carne was the second lieutenant.

After another short stay in hospital with scabies, Harold was promoted to lieutenant.

Bob said without this diary he and his six siblings would not have been able to learn about his father’s time at war.

“He didn’t describe anything in too much detail … it was a brief insight.

“The diary really shows how hard it would have been in the trenches.”

Harold died on April 19, 1943 at Renmark aged 53 and is buried in the Renmark cemetery.

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.

Originally published as WW1 history almost lost in fire sheds light on Western Front movements of Lieutenant Harold Charles Carne