Pte. Allan Harding 3056055

Pte. Allan Harding

1^st Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment/38^th Canadian Infantry Battalion

Regimental Number 3056055

Allan Edgar Harding was born in Dummer Township on September 14^th 1885 to parents George and Jane (Tighe) Harding.  The Hardings farmed in the township for many years.

Allan Harding as a young boy

Allan was living and working as a stone mason in the township of Douro when he was called to report to Peterborough under the Military Service Act.  He travelled to Peterborough and received his medical examination on November 8^th 1917.  The thirty-two year old was considered fit for overseas service.  He was a small man, standing only 5 foot 4 inches tall.  He was described as having a dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.  Doctors also noted a scar above his left knee and under his left eye.  He had no previous military experience and was a member of the Church of England. 

Though his medical inspection was the first step in his enlistment, Allan did not don the khaki until January 15^th, when he was summoned to the Canadian training camp at Barriefield, Kingston.  He was put into the 1^st Depot Battalion Eastern Ontario Regiment and stayed at Barriefield for five months before being sent with a draft of soldiers to Montreal in mid-June of 1918.

Allan arrived in England aboard the troopship Waimana on July 7^th 1918.  He was immediately posted to the 6^th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Seaford Camp to await assignment to the front.  Three months later, Harding was one of a draft of reserves who were posted to the 38^th Canadian Infantry Battalion, a unit which had already seen considerable fighting at the front.  Harding’s draft left the next day for France and joined the 38^th on October 14^th 1918.  He fought with this unit for nearly a month and was present in the attack on the French city of Valenciennes.  After the war ended on November 11^th, Harding and his unit remained in France and Belgium until May 5^th 1919.  He returned to England and remained there a month before begin shipped back to Canada on the 6^th of June. He was fully discharged from military service on June 16^th 1919 in Ottawa.

Allen Harding returned to Douro after the war where he married Lousia Boardman in 1923.

Sources

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Births and Stillbirths – 1869-1913. MS 929, Series: 78; Reel: MS929.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough East, Ontario; Roll: T-6363; Family No: 13.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (east/est), Ontario; Page: 8; Family No: 81.

Canadian Expeditionary Force. “Complete Military Service File of Allen Harding”, 1914-1918. Accession 1992-93/166. Record Group 150. Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4041 – 14. Item 451645.