Studio portrait of 4123 Private (Pte) Harold Bendik Pittersen, 32nd Battalion. A labourer from ...

Studio portrait of 4123 Private (Pte) Harold Bendik Pittersen, 32nd Battalion. A labourer from Midland Junction, Western Australia, he originally enlisted as a Stoker in the Royal Australian Navy on 19 December 1914 but left the navy on 12 May 1916 to join the AIF four days later as 4123 Pte Harry Scott. He embarked with 10th Reinforcements from Fremantle on 28 October 1916 aboard HMAT Port Melbourne for Devonport, England. Following training in England he proceeded to France and joined his battalion on the Western Front near Grevillers in early April 1917. Pte Pittersen (alias Scott) was wounded in action near Zonnebeke on 12 October 1917 but remained on duty. He was wounded in action on the second occasion on 20 November 1917 near Messines, Belgium, and was treated at No 8 Australian Field Ambulance before returning to duty 11 days later. He was wounded in action on a third occasion on 18 April 1918 near Corbie, France, and died of these wounds later that day at No 2/5 Home Counties Field Ambulance. The source of the note on the photograph “H Scott Killed 9/4/18” is unknown and is not supported by official documentation. He was aged 23 years. His older brother, 822 Regimental Sergeant Major Norman Pittersen (also known as Norman Stribley), 11th Battalion, also died of wounds received in action near Bapaume, France, on 7 April 1917.