Reg's journey comes to an end.
As our 2022 Connecting Spirits Community Tour comes to the final week, we also reflect on the end of Lieutenant Reginald Harrington's wartime journey. His letter in May 1918 stated his belief he would now finally be going home. However Reg's health deteriorated quickly and the final letter he wrote to his wife Edith, is difficult to understand and shows his rapid decline. He wrote:
'14 May 1918 ( Royal Victorian Hospital Netley, UK)
My Dear Darling Ediss
Just a note to let you know I am...tho sound living Dr. says yes...I am losing all...about in a couple of months.
Heaps and Heaps of Love and kisses darling
From your old man.'
Lieutenant Reginald Harrington DCM died on 10 June 1918 and was buried with full military honours in the Netley Military Cemetery on 13th June at 2.00 pm. The Chaplain to the hospital the Rev. F.W Bennett-Symond officiated at the interment. The details from the burial report state:
'The coffin was a good polished elm and the deceased officer was accorded a full military funeral. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and surmounted by a beautiful wreath. Gun Carriage, Band, Firing Party, Buglers and Pallbearers under the command of an Officer, were present. Prior to the interment a service was held in the Garrison Church, Netley. Several officers ( patients in the Netley Military Hospital ) were present and acted as Pallbearers. A party of about 50 Australian soldiers followed the remains to the cemetery. The grave will be turfed, and an oak cross erected by the AIF. Lieutenant Balfour, Administrative Headquarters, AIF London, represented the AIF at the funeral.'
One more letter ends this tragic narrative, written by the nurse who cared for Reg at Number 3 General Hospital in France. Katie P. wrote to Edith on 6th October 1918:
'France 6 October 1918
Dear Mrs. Harrington
Your letter has juts reached me and I'm terribly grieved to hear about your husband having died soon after getting to England. We were proud to get him over and he wrote twice to me from Netley saying he wished he were back here with us at No. 3 General.
You must know he was terribly ill and fought for every inch of his life. Many men would have died long before. But he was a Splendid fighter and his one idea was to get back to you and his little girl. It was very sweet to see him with your photos beside him. Practically blind but wanting to have you near.
Dear Mrs. Harrington please accept my very sincere sympathy. The only consolation you can have is that your husband died for his King and Country and nothing finer could we have. We are very busy now. I'm on this Ambulance train taking down the wounded to the hospitals.
With Kindest Regards
Katie P.'
Today on Saturday 9 October 2022, these final letters were read out at the grave of Reginald Harrington in remembrance of his extraordinary story. Prior to the commemoration our group had a private tour of the Netley Chapel, the only remaining part of the hospital and to read out the details of his funeral in the chapel we visited, was a moving and profound moment of this tour. On this sunny autumn day this man from South Australia, his wife Edith and little daughter Gwen, were honoured by our group. The Last Post was played and the Ode read on behalf of the Harrington family back home in South Australia.
Lest We Forget.
(A detailed blog about Netley will follow at a later date.)
