Vital Statistics
Harold Charles Appleford Pinsent: 1894 – 1985 GRO1276 (Soldier, Driver, Melbourne, Australia)
1. Muriel Elizabeth Hilda May Rossbotham: 1893 – 1975
Married: 1919: Victoria, Australia
Children by Muriel Elizabeth Hilda May Rossbotham:
Heather Violet Pinsent: 1927 – 2006 (Married, William Leonard Beacom, St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, 1946)
2. Veronica Mary Collins: 1904 – 1980
Married: xxxx: xxxx, xxxx
3. Wife (GRO1608): xxxx – xxxx
Married: xxxx: xxxx, xxxx
Family Branch: Australia
PinsentID: GRO1276
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Harold Charles Appleford Pinsent was the eldest son of Charles Samuel Pinsent by his wife Edith (née Dear). He was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, in 1894 and grew up both there and in Western Australia. He had an elder sister, Elizabeth Edith Pinsent and a younger half-brother William Watts Francis Pinsent. There were also three other brothers Alfred Samuel Pinsent, Clement James Pinsent and another half-brother George Watts Pinsent who all died in infancy.
Harold’s parents had an uneasy relationship and they separated while living in Western Australia in 1898. Edith seems to have taken up with a man named “Watts” and moved to the gold-mining town of Kalgoolie. Presumably she took her children with her; however her son Harold seems to have rejoined his father at some stage. Charles Samuel Pinsent, who was a “painter” and “decorator,” went back to Melbourne to live with his parents on “Alexander Parade” in Fitzroy after the separation. Edith’s daughter likely married in 1912 and Edith elected to return to Melbourne in 1914. When Charles heard she was coming, he started divorce proceedings in the “Supreme Court.” The relevant papers filed in the State Registry appear to be incomplete and it may never have been finalized. Nevertheless, their marriage ended in July 1914.
In August, Edith sued Harold’s father for support and maintenance (The Truth: Saturday 15th August 1914). In court, she described how her son (presumably Harold) had warned her that her husband was filling for divorce. She said that she left him because he had become abusive, and explained that he had sold off her belongings – including the sewing machine she used to earn her living as a “dress maker”. She admitted that her two children (presumably Harold and William) were nearly fully grown, but the magistrates still ordered Charles to pay her 27s per week by way of maintenance and threatened him with £25 fine in default.
Harold Charles Appleford Pinsent enlisted in the “Australian Armed Forces” in October 1915. His attestation papers confirm that he was the son of Charles Pinsent of “Alexandra Parade” in Fitzroy; however, he gave his address as “Ruskin Road” in St. Kilda. Harold stated that he was 21 years old and a single “Methodist packer.” His medical report shows that he was 5′ 5.5″ tall, he weighed in at 10 stone and 6 lbs and had a fresh complexion. He had brown eyes and brown hair. The medical officer noted three vaccination marks and a “slight scar on his chest”. Harold may have been a boxer before the war but there was no sign of any damage on that account (The Herald: Wednesday 30th July 1913)!
Private Harold Charles Pinsent (No. 3111) embarked on troop-transport A17 (“Port of Lincoln”) in Melbourne and sailed for Egypt with the “10th Battalion” on 16th October 1915. He then underwent training, and was taken on the strength of the “14th Battn.” at Ismailia. While there, he was one many ANZAC soldiers who wrote home thanking their family and friends for sending “Billycans” of good cheer at Christmas (Brisbane Courier: Saturday 26th February 1916).
Harold was transferred to the “46th Battn.” at Tel-el-Kebir in March 1916. The unit had taken a mauling at Gallipoli and was being rebuilt prior to service on the Western Front. He was promoted to “Corporal” on 14th March 1916 and embarked for Marseilles in France on 2nd June. Harold was given a field promotion to “Sergeant” in October 1916 and to “Second Lieutenant” on 15th May 1917. He was wounded in July, and his father was duly notified by a letter sent to “#118 Alexander Parade”, Fitzroy from “Base Headquarters” in Melbourne on 25th July 1917. It must have been a dizzying task to keep the paper straight. His injury was publicaly announced in the “329th Casualty List” printed by the Mildura Cultivator, a local newspaper, on 11th August.
Interestingly, another local newspaper in Melbourne, the Northcote Leader (Saturday 28th July 1917), published a list of members of the “Sacred Heart Church” in Preston who had volunteered for active service. It tells us that “Mr. Joseph H. Pinsent, 100 Gladstone Avenue, Northcote, has been notified that his son, (sic) Harold C. Pinsent has been awarded a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He has been at the French front for about two years.” Joseph H. Pinsent was, of course, his uncle and not his father! Perhaps there was some reluctance to acknowledge the fact that Charles Samuel Pinsent was his father as his parents had recently gone through a messy, well publicized, divorce. Harold was made a full “Lieutenant” in September 1917 and was granted leave in November. This lead to an extended stint in hospital in Le Havre from December through to March 1918! It was probably preferable to being at the front.
Harold returned to action and Lieutenant Pinsent was awarded the “Military Cross” on 28th August 1918. As described by the London Gazette (11th October 1918): Lt. Harold Charles Pinsent (of the “Australian Imperial Force”) received the medal “For conspicuous gallantry when his platoon was held up by two machine guns. He immediately rushed the post, killing two of the enemy and capturing both guns. The following night he skillfully attacked an enemy post with his platoon, capturing eight prisoners and one machine gun without casualties to his men. He showed great courage and first class leadership.” Several Australian newspapers refer to the award and one notes that: “Lieut. Harold C. Pinsent, who has been awarded the Military Cross, enlisted as a private in November 1915. He was soon promoted sergeant, and in 1916 gained his commission. He was a member of the 14th Reinforcements, and on arrival in France was transferred to the 46th Battalion, of which he is still a member. He is a Fitzroy boy, and at one time was connected with “The Herald” publishing staff” (Weekly Times (Vic. 1914-1918) Saturday 26th October 1918). I did not know about that.
Harold was granted leave on 5th October 1918 and was in Paris in February 1919. From there, he was sent to “A.I.F. Headquarters” in London, England. He arrived at the end of March just in time to rejoin his unit and return to Australia on the troop-transport “Ypiringa”. He was discharged on 27th August 1919. In addition to the “Military Cross,” he was awarded the “Star”, “British War” and “Victory” service medals. In 1939, Australia’s Official “War Historian” – who was evidently still writing up Australia’s contribution to World War I – placed an advertisement in the Newcastle Sun (Tuesday 14th February 1914) seeking information on Harold’s whereabouts. Whether he made contact with him or not, I do not know.
It did not take long for Harold to find his feet on his return to Australia. He married Miss Muriel Elizabeth Hilda Rossbotham (“Hilda”) at North Carlton “Presbyterian” Church in Melbourne on 27th September 1919. The wedding was described, with a photograph attached, in a later issue of Table Talk (Thursday 9th October 1919). Miss E. Pinsent was one of the bride’s-maids. Presumably this was his sister, although I thought she had married long since!
After the war, Harold became a “motor driver” in St. Kilda. He may have been employed at “Shields’ Motor Garage” on “Flinders Street” in Melbourne as he reported that his bicycle had been stolen from the garage in April 1923 (Victoria, Australia, Police Gazette: 1855 – 1924). Harold and “Hilda” had a daughter, Heather Violet Pinsent in 1927. She was later to marry William Leonard Beacom in St. Kilda in September 1946 (The Age: Monday 16th September 1946).
In his spare time, Harold seems to have been interest in fishing. The Sporting Globe shows that H. Pincent and H. Hyder caught “90 flathead, one weighing 3 lb, and rock cod” at Beaumaris, in April 1928 (Sporting Globe: Saturday 28th April 1828). Not content with that, they caught a further 108 flathead a few weeks later (Sporting Glove: Saturday 16th June 1928).
The Australian Electoral Rolls show that Harold and “Hilda” lived at 5 Rothesay Avenue in St. Kilda, Victoria, in 1928 and that they were still there in 1931. However, their marriage did not last. He placed an advertisement in one the local papers in July 1933 stating that he would no longer be responsible “for any debts contracted in my name without my written authority” (The Age: Wednesday 5th July 1933). This was not a good sign. The couple got a divorce later that year. Harold Charles Pinsent could be found living on Lascelles Street, in Bourke, Coburg in 1936, while his ex-wife was in Barkly Street in St. Kilda. The Electoral Rolls also tell us that Harold was living with Veronica Mary Pinsent (née Collins) by 1942, so he must have remarried. I am not sure when or where. As far as I am know, “Hilda” never remarried. She appears to have become a “book binder” in Malvern Victoria.
In February 1940, Harold was summoned to attend Northcote Court for “not having his rear number place illuminated,” which must have been embarrassing for a professional “driver”. He was convicted and duly paid his £1 fine the following month (Victoria Petty Sessions: Register of Convictions, Orders and other Proceedings). He was still a “driver” and living on Lascelles Street in 1954.
Harold’s second marriage (to Veronica) may not have lasted long. The Electoral Rolls seems to show that he was living on his own in the early 1950s. However, he may have tried again and married for a third time in the 1950s. He was living with Wife (GRO1608) on O’Heas Street, in Coburg by 1963. He was described as being a “shopkeeper”; however, he must surely have retired by then! Harold and Wife (GRO1608) moved inland and they were living at Myrrhee near Wangaratta in 1968. It seems to have been a short stop as they had moved back to Moorabbin in Southern Melbourne by 1972. The Rolls go on to show that Harold Charles and Wife (GRO1608) were living at Moorabbin as late as 1980. Harold died in Melbourne in 1985.
Family Tree
GRANDPARENTS
Grandfather: Thomas James Pinsent 1833 – 1915
Grandmother: Elizabeth James: xxxx – 1908
PARENTS
Father: Charles Samuel Pinsent: 1864 – 1930
Mother: Edith Mary Dear: xxxx – 1924
FATHER’S SIBLINGS (AUNTS, UNCLES)
Thomas James Pinsent: 1858 – 1932
William Henry Pinsent: 1860 – 1860
Elizabeth Pinsent: 1861 – 1870
Joseph Henry Pinsent: 1863 – 1945
William John Pinsent: 1866 – 1905
MALE SIBLINGS (BROTHERS)
Harold Charles Appleford Pinsent: 1894 – 1985
Alfred Samuel Pinsent: 1895 – 1896
Clement James Pinsent: 1898 – 1898
William Watts Francis Pinsent: 1900 – 1977
George Watts Pinsent: 1902 – 1902
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