3683 Private Henry Howard Bainbridge was born in Auburn, NSW. He spent his childhood and youth there attending Auburn Public School and the Auburn Salvation Army. A labourer, Henry Bainbridge, 21, enlisted at Holsworthy 13 August 1915. A single man, he nominated his father, Wingham Bainbridge of Sheffield Street, Auburn, as his next-of-kin.
Private Bainbridge embarked on the Suevic on 20 December 1915, arriving in Egypt early in the new year. Initially allocated to the 13th Battalion at the Tel-el-Kebir camp, Bainbridge was transferred to the 4th Pioneers on 16 March 1916. He remined in Egypt for a further three months before embarking for the Western Front, via the Mediterranean French port of Marseilles.
Private Bainbridge survived for six months through the First Battle of the Somme with no crimes, sicknesses or wounds against his name. He was granted leave in Britain from 24 January 1917 but at the end of that time, Bainbridge went AWL. He had been brought ‘under escort’ to the Tidworth Depot from Warwick Square in London, the main departing station for troops returning to France. The following day he disappeared.
On 1 April 1920, a military court in Australia discharged Private Bainbridge on account of him being illegally absent from duty from 14 February 1917 to 21 July 1920. The issue of his medals was cancelled, and Bainbridge forfeited any claim on the Commonwealth of Australia for a return passage to his home country.
In April 1923, the military authorities wrote to Henry’s father seeking an address for Henry so that pay matters could be finalised. Henry would have been entitled to one shilling for every day he served overseas. Note: As with all members of the AIF, the extra pay earned overseas was only paid when the soldier was discharged or to his beneficiaries on the soldier’s death. In Henry’s case he was owed 422 days - £21 2s.
On 11 April 1923, Henry’s father replied, "The last we have heard of him was in America that was two years ago and have not heard from him since so I cannot say where he has got to."