CAMERON, Henry Alexander Hugh (Pat)

Henry, known as Harry, was born at Inverell in 1884. He played Rugby Union for the Inverell Albion Juniors. The Inverell Argus newspaper described him as ‘a popular idol on local football fields’.  He went on to play centre forward for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney and was selected to play interstate matches for NSW.

Harry was working in Sydney as a Bricklayer when he enlisted in 1915. He served with the 3rd Battalion at Tel el Kebir, Egypt, before his transfer to the 55th Battalion which went to France in March 1916. Three months later he received a promotion to Acting Corporal.

A few weeks later he was Killed in Action near Pozieres. Harry has no known grave and his name is inscribed on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France. It was not until March 1920 that his Mother received official notification that there was ‘no possibility of the recovery of any personal effects’.

During his years at Inverell, Harry had also been a prominent member of the Pipe Band. The Tingha Advocate newspaper 25 August 1916 claimed that during the War Harry played his pipes before the Prince of Wales who was so impressed that he  immediately promoted him to Corporal.

Harry is believed to have been the first North Western Rugby Union player to be selected for Interstate matches. He was a son of George and Georgina Cameron of Sydney.

At Inverell Harry has his name inscribed on the town's Honor Roll and Cenotaph.  In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade.