Harold Pope | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 October 1873 Ealing, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 13 May 1938 (aged 64) Perth, Western Australia |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1900–c.1926 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | 52nd Battalion (1917–18) 14th Brigade (1916) 16th Battalion (1914–16) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration[1] Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
| Other work | Commissioner of Railways, Western Australia |
Colonel Harold Pope, CB, VD (16 October 1873 – 13 May 1938) was a soldier in the Australian Army during the First World War and was later Commissioner of Railways in Western Australia.
Born in England in 1873, Pope worked as a clerk in the Great Northern Railway before emigrating to Western Australia in 1895. He continued to work in the railways but also served in the Western Australian Military Forces. He volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the outbreak of the First World War and was appointed a battalion commander. He served during the Gallipoli Campaign and later on the Western Front, where he commanded the 14th Brigade. In July 1916 he was sacked at the conclusion of the Attack at Fromelles, on his commanding officer's belief that he was drunk. Sent home to Australia despite his claims of innocence, he agitated to be returned to active duty. In March 1917 he was successful and was made commander of the 52nd Battalion. Wounded during the Battle of Messines, he was repatriated to Australia in early 1918.
After the war he was appointed Commissioner of Railways in Western Australia and implemented a number of changes to a rail service in difficulties. He resigned from the role on account of his health in 1928 and died ten years later in Perth.