The AIF Project

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 29 August 1915.

Taken on strength 21st Bn, Anzac, 12 October 1915.

Admitted to No 6 Field Ambulance, Anzac, 22 October 1915 (gastro-enteritis); transferred to No 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Anzac, 26 October 1915, to 'Glenart Castle', 26 October 1915 (dysentery slight); to No 19 General Hospital, Alexandria, 31 October 1915 (dysentery and jaundice); to No 2 Australian General Hospital, Alexandria, 30 December 1915; to No 1 Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, 31 December 1915; to Helouan Convalescent Depot, Helouan, 12 January 1916.

Attached to 5th and 6th Brigade Details, Moascar, 30 March 1916; marched out to 5th Division, Moascar, 9 April 1916.

Taken on strength 53rd Bn, Ismailia, 9 April 1916.

Promoted Lieutenant, 11 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 28 June 1916.

Killed in action, 19 July 1916.

Undated statement by Major J. J. Murray, 53rd Bn: 'Lieut. MOFFITT was killed on the evening of the 19/20th July, while attempting [to] assist Col. MORRIS (sic), who was hit during an assault on the second enemy line in front of FROMELLES. Lieut MOFFITT was hit by Machine Gun fire and death was in[s]tantaneous. The portion (sic) was retaken by the enemy next morning and the body was not recovered.'

Translation of German report, 15 October 1919, 'Identification Disc handed over by Intell. Officer of 6th Army Head Qrs. through Central Office for Deceased Estates, 12/10/16. Lieutenant H.L. Moffitt of 53rd Battn. (Australian), fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles on 19/7/16.'

Advice from Red Cross, 'Moffitt, Harry L. Lieut. Died 19/7/16 near Fromelles. Not to be found in any graves list of Fleurbaix or neighborhood [sic].'

Red Cross File No 1800102: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.'Statement, 3112 Sergeant P. LONERGAN, C Company, 53rd Bn (patient, No 9 General Hospital, Rouen), 8 November 1916: 'Lieut. Moffit (sic) was Adjutant of the Regt. On the 19th July, the Regt. was at Laventie and we went over the top at 5.40 p.m. to attack the German trenches. Mr Moffit was with Colonel Norris, leading the Battn. The Colonel was killed by a shell and Mr. Moffit called out for 4 men to bring the Colonel in. He had no sooner done so than he himself was shot in the back of the head and fell dead across the Colonels' body. I do not know if Mr Moffit's body was afterwards recovered.'

Second statement, 3304 J.P. MORLOCK, MG Section, 53rd Bn (patient, 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 17 November 1916: 'Informant states he saw the above killed at Fleurbaix on July 19th 1916 at about 6 pm. Lieut. Moffitt was calling for volunteers to take back the Colonel's body and stood up in the trench. His head was blown off. Witness does not know if or where, the body was buried.'