PASTERFIELD, Henry

Henry enlisted at Inverell in February 1916 when he was twenty one years old.  He was the son of George and Fredrica Pasterfield of Maryvale, Yetman, north of Inverell. With other district men, Henry became one of the Second Contingent of The Kurrajongs who left Inverell together on 29 February 1916.

He was a member of the 33rd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to leaving Australia on HMAT A30 Border in October 1916.  After a long voyage he arrived in England where further training was undertaken until the Battalion was sent to France in April.  At the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, Henry was gassed and sent to the Casualty Clearing Station.  Months later he was transferred to England for almost three months.  After his return to France he was wounded again in April 1918 and admitted to hospital.

Henry returned to Australia and was medically discharged in May 1919.  He died at Hastings Hospital in 1966 and was buried at Wauchope NSW.His brother Frederick enlisted in 1917 and served with the 13th Battalion, returning home in 1918. Henry and Frederick were cousins of Kurrajong Colin Morris.

Private Henry Pasterfield has his name inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.