Lives of the First World War

1876 - 1915

Harold’s father, Thomas Venables, had emigrated to Australia from Tipton, Staffordshire, in 1873. Thomas was recruited for the Fitzroy Ironworks in NSW. Harold was his second son to be born in Australia. Harold’s mother died in 1878 and Thomas married again in 1880 to Emma Monk. By 1885 Thomas had moved to Ingham, Queensland where he became a sugar grower. In 1899 Harold joined the 2 (QLD MNTD INF) CNTGNT and saw service in the Boer War. Afterwards he stayed on in Southern Africa and became a gold miner in Hartley, Rhodesia. In 1915 at the age of 39 he sailed to England to volunteer for the army. His half-brother, George Frank Venables served with the Australian Infantry, and was killed in France in 1918. George was awarded the Military Medal.

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