Name
Harry Fountain
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20099
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
Harry Fountain was born in Markyate in (baptised 20 Aug 1890, Woodside, Caddington, Bedford) to William Richard Fountain and Sarah Ann (nee Poulton).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Lizzie (born 1871), Arthur (Jack, born 1881), Frederick (born 1884), George (born 1886), Thomas (born 1889) and Harry were living at Woodside Road, Caddington.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Arthur, Frederick (both farm labourers) and Harry were living at Chapel Lane, Markyate.
On the 1911 Census Harry was living with his father, William at 1, North Cottages, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Harry. He enlisted as Private 20099, Bedfordshire Regiment (possibly in late 1914/early 1915.
Harry was posted to 1st Battalion in France on 3 Nov 1915. In 1916 the Battalion took part in the Battles of the Somme – High Wood ( ), Guillemont ( 3-6 Sep), Flers Courcelette ( 15-22 Sep), Morval ( 25-28 Sep). in Oct the moved to the Festubert area, relatively quiet area before Moving to the Arras area March 1917. They took art in the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9-14 April and on 23 Apr 1917 the attack on La Coulette intended as a diversion to 2nd Battle of the Scarpe. During this action at La Coulette Harry was reported as Missing, wounded on nurses’ reports. His death was presumed to be 23 Apr 1917 although his Medal Index Card states Died of Wounds.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s was paid to his brother William and his arrears of £8 1s 4d was shared equally among his family. Brother Arthur (known as Jack) served as CSM 15400 in 7th Battalion Bedsfordshire Regiment and was killed in Action on 27 Sep 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
