Not Forgotten, 65 Sergeant Henry John EATON, 10 Light Horse AIF and 51 Battalion AIF, World War 1

Sergeant Henry John Eaton was born at Irishtown near Northam, the second youngest child in the family of 4 boys and 1 girl of William George and Hanora Eaton of “Margerin”, 8 km south of Goomalling. Henry Eaton attended Irishtown State School but most of his education was by private tutor at home with an Irish school master. When he enlisted at Guildford on 6 October 1914 at age 29, he stood 6 foot 4 inches tall.
Eaton was actively connected with all classes of sport in the district, being a fair cricketer and footballer, a splendid horseman and a good rifle shot, distinguishing himself as a rifle shot with the 10th Light Horse in camp and afterwards as a sniper at Gallipoli. He was an outstanding horseman who rode at picnic races and could shoot kangaroos at a full gallop. The Goomalling-Dowerin Mail reports that the town of Goomalling held a sendoff for Harry Eaton at the Mechanics Institute on 12 December 1914 where there were speeches, dancing and a presentation to the departing soldier.
Henry Eaton was a good friend of the Throssell brothers, especially Ric, and they enlisted together. The Throssell brothers travelled down from Cowcowing and collected Henry on the way. Henry Eaton was part of A Squadron of the 10th Light Horse Regiment; he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 19 December 1914, embarked at Alexandria for Gallipoli on 16 May 1915. He was promoted to Corporal on 17 June 1915, fought at Lone Pine between 6 and 10 August 1915 and was promoted to sergeant on 22 August 1915. Also in August 1915 however, Henry suffered enteritis and was initially transferred to Mudros, then to England on H.S. Aquitania. Before proceeding to France, Henry had another bout in hospital, this time with pleurisy. On his recovery Henry went to France, arriving in February 1917 and joining 51st Battalion AIF.
Messines Ridge was crucial high ground in Belgium. Tunnels were dug beneath the ridge and packed with explosives then on 7 June 1917 they were blown beneath the German positions. 80,000 soldiers advanced behind a ‘creeping’ barrage of shells and within three hours much of the ridge had been taken. However the battle continued until 14 June. Henry was killed in action on 17 July 1917 in Belgium and is buried in the Messines Ridge British War Cemetery. Just before Henry’s death his father had sent a cablegram informing him that a parcel was on its way, and had a reply from the army that it could not be delivered as the soldier had returned to Australia. Unfortunately it was another Eaton of the same unit who had returned to Australia. Two of Henry Eaton’s cousins, Alfred and Herbert Beard, were killed in action. Eaton left Northam with the first members of the 10th Light Horse and was closely identified with Hugo Throssell V.C. and Lieutenant Eric Throssell who was killed in Palestine, both in camp and in Gallipoli and Egypt.
Henry Eaton was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal. And the Victory Medal.