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 volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the outbreak of the First World War and was appointed a battalion commander.
After the war he was appointed Commissioner of Railways in Western Australia and implemented a number of changes to a rail service in difficulties.
[2] Following the outbreak of the First World War, Pope volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and was given command of the 16th Battalion.
He took part in the Landing at Anzac Cove late in the day on 25 April 1915 and secured a gap in the defences at a feature that would soon be known as Pope's Hill.
On 1 May 1916, he was promoted temporary brigadier general and appointed commander of the 14th Brigade,[3] part of the 5th Division, which was training in Egypt.
After having ordered his brigade to withdraw on the second day of the battle, he fell asleep and was unable to be roused by his commanding officer, Major General James M'Cay.
He secured an unpaid position as a continuous service officer aboard a transport ship, the Hororata, which was sailing for England.
[2] In March 1919, Pope returned to Western Australia and later in the year was made that state's acting Commissioner of Railways.