The coin belonging to Cessnock World War I soldier Private Archibald Harden will be reunited with his family.
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Featured in last week’s Advertiser, the coin was found by Lake Haven resident Norma Bell among her late husband’s possessions (see the original story here).
Mrs. Bell and her daughter Glennis researched the inscription and traced it back to Pte. Harden, who was from Cessnock.
The Advertiser received phone calls and Facebook comments pointing us towards the family of Roy Harden, who used to own a garage in Vincent Street.
Soon enough, Roy’s daughter Robyn Gilmore phoned and confirmed that Archibald was her great-uncle – the brother of her grandfather Robert.
A few phone calls later, Mrs. Gilmore tracked down Archibald’s only living daughter, Betty Bowcock, who lives in Queensland and was said to be thrilled with the coin’s discovery.
“Betty has nothing of her father’s,” Mrs. Gilmore said.
“This is so important to the family, and with the Anzac centenary coming up, it’s come at the right time.”
Former Aberdare resident Graham Parsons is researching the history of the Diggers who appear on the Aberdare Cemetery Memorial Gates and provided the following information on Pte. Harden.
“Archibald was the son of Robert Harden and Christina (nee Gracie), and was born in 1899 at Wallsend. His siblings were: William, Robert, David, Christina & Joseph.
“Archibald’s father Robert was born in Kilsyth, Scotland.
“Archibald married Lillian Gertrude Short at Cessnock in 1921. Archibald died in 1928 at Adamstown aged 29 and is buried at Sandgate Cemetery, while Mrs. Harden died in 1974.”
Another article supplied by Mr. Parsons explained that Archibald died after falling from the balcony of the Royal Standard Hotel in Adamstown, where he was the publican.