Name
Harold England
23/02/1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/08/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
449234
Canadian Infantry
14th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Broxbourne memorials
Pre War
Harold ENGLAND was born on 23rd February 1884, in Sheffield, Yorkshire, son of Joseph England, a Drapers Clerk and Elizabeth Coates England (nee McGrah). The eldest of four Children.
He was Baptised on 8th May 1884, at the Wesleyan Methodist Chaple, Thirwell Road, Heeley, Yorks, WR.
1891 Census records Harold aged 7, living with his parents, and sister Gertrude (3), at 105 Shirebrook Road, Heeley, Yorks. His Aunt Jessie McGrah was living with the family, and they had a live-in General Domestic servant.
1901 Census records Harold aged 17, his occupation is not given, he is living with his parents, sisters Gertrude (13), and Doris (6) and brother Cecil (9) at 43 Meersbrook Park Road, Norton (Derby), Derbyshire. The family had a live-in General Domestic Servant.
On 23rd February 1902, Harold enlisted in the Royal Navy, his eighteenth birthday, for 12 years, and issued with the service number 218587, he gave his occupation as a Clerk. He was invalided out of the Royal Navy in December 1903. His last ship was HMS Drake.
1911 Census Harold (27) is recorded as a Painter and Decorator, living with his parents, sisters Gertrude, and Doris and brother Cecil, at 69 Brook Road, Meersbrook, Sheffield, Yorks. His father is recorded as Secretary to Limited Company.
About 1913, Harold emigrated to Canada, He married Annie (Lilian) May Welbourne of Scarrington, Nottinghamshire, England, the daughter of Walter Frank and Ann Caroline Welbourne, on 17th October 1914, in Carleton, Ontario, Canada. They had one son Gordon Cecil England, born in the following year.
Wartime Service
Harold enlisted in Quebec, on 20th March 1916, for the duration of the war, posted to the 57th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, and issued with the service number 449234, later transferred to the 14th Battalion, in the field, he gave his address as 12 Ursula Street, Quebec, and married to Lilian, and employed as a Munitions Inspector.
On completion of his training, he left Canada for England on 2nd June 1916, arriving on 8th June 1916. Harold served on the Western Front, he was killed in action on 17th August 1917, aged 33, during the Battle for Hill 70, (Battle of Hill 70. 15th - 25th August 1917). He is remembered on the Vimy Memorial to the missing Canadians.
Additional Information
Annie and son Gordon, returned to England on 23rd June 1916, initially staying with Harold's parents in Sheffield, later moving to live with her parents in Broxbourne, Herts.
1921 Census records Annie as Lilian Mary a widow living with her parents, Walter and Ann Welbourne and her son Gordon England (5) at Home Farm Cottage, Broxbournebury, Broxbourne, Herts, where her father was the Farm Steward.
His Royal Navy service record is available on-line at Find my Past & Ancestry UK, his Canadian service record in available on-line at the Canadian National Archives.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
