Military History

Harold is listed as being killed in action on 9 Oct 1917. The Battalion Report on Operations for 9th & 10th Oct 1917 is transcribed below.

October 9^th 1917 – Near Gheluvelt.

5.14am: Our barrage commenced and appeared to be short, this was afterwards confirmed by B Coy who were scattered by it.

5.18am: Enemy barrage commenced

5.25am: White Very light seen in wood

5.30pm: White Very lights seen on right and left of wood

?.05am: I proceeded forward to the front line to find out the position and discovered that the Battn was back in the line from which it jumped off. It appeared that there had been heavy casualties to Officers and N.C.O’s from M.G’s firing from pill boxes behind the Chateau and also from the direction of Gheluvelt. In view if the heavy casualties and state of the men and the constant M.G. fire I decided that it was not possible to reorganise and make another attempt later on and gave orders to my officers to reorganise and remain where they were.

Owing to the shortness of time to prepare attack, it had been impossible to explain thoroughly to all the men how far they were to go etc, consequently when the casualties occurred they did not know what to do and returned to their jumping off trenches. Another factor in the situation was the condition of the men, they had been five days without any hot food, soaked to the skin by the heavy rain that fell, and owing to the state of the ground and the constant heavy shelling, very little rest or sleep had been possible for them.

I immediately informed Brigade of the situation and asked O.C. 1/Norfolk Regt. to bring his reserve Coy up into support.

10.25am: Message from O.C. B Coy to say enemy reported massing on left flank, I informed Brigade to that effect.

11.30am: Message from 15/Inf Bde to say dig in and hold on.

12.10pm: Message from 15/Inf Bde to say 2 Coys of 15 R War R will dribble up in small parties and will occupy trenches at J.21.b.4.9 and will be under command of Lieut Col G. Deakin, for the purpose of repelling counter attacks. They will relieve part of the front line tonight. The barrage is being brought back to original lines.

From 3.50pm to 5.10pm enemy heavily barraged Battn HQ’s and pill boxes in line with it.

11.55pm: 15^th Inf Bde O.O. [Operational Order] 140 and B.M. 397 received saying that Polderhoek Chateau will be assaulted and captured at all costs tonight 9^th/10^th Oct. The assault will be carried out by the 14^th R War R. Guides to be ready at  Bn HQ’s at 9pm.

October 10^th 1917

12.15am: I informed Bde that O.O. No 140 and B.M. 397 were not received till 11.40pm and that 14/R War R had not arrived.

1.50am: 15^th Inf Bde O.O 140/2 received saying that zero hour is altered from 11pm to 2am 10^th Oct 1917.

3.15am: 1 Coy 14/R War R arrived and were sent up to front line. I informed 15/Inf Bde to this effect and asked for protective barrage to be as for this afternoon as further operations against Polderhoek Chateau were impossible with the men available.