Name
Harry Gomm
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/07/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
1178
Royal Fusiliers *1
9th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 8C, 9A and 16A
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St. Thomas’ Church Memorial, West Hyde
Pre War
Harry was born on the 9th of October 1889 in West Hyde and baptised there on the 30th of November. His parents were Emmanuel and Eliza (nee Howard) Gomm and Emmanuel was an Agricultural Labourer.
In 1891 they were living with their four children at Bradbury Cottages, Pleasant Place, Rickmansworth. 1901 found them near Jacks Lock, Harefield, now with five children. In 1911 Harry age 21 was a Builder’s Labourer still living with his parents and five siblings at Woodcock Hill, Rickmansworth, Harry was a cousin of Charles Gomm who died at sea on the 5th of June 1916.
Recorded as enlisting in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
Wartime Service
The 8th Battalion landed in France on the 30th/31st of May 1915 as part of 36th Brigade 12th (Eastern) Division, taking part in the Battle of Loos in September.
The Battle of Albert is the official name for the British efforts during the first two weeks of the First Battle of the Somme which lasted from the 1st of July to the 18th of November 1916. The preliminary artillery bombardment, which began on the 24th of June and lasted a week, was less effective than anticipated leaving much of the German defences intact. On the 1st of July eleven British Divisions attacked north of the Somme on a fifteen mile front. At the same time the French attacked with five Divisions on a five mile front south of the river. The first day was a disaster for the British with an estimated 60000 casualties of whom around 20000 were killed. Harry died on day two possibly during an attack south of the road between Albert and Bapaume.
Additional Information
*1 Probably more correctly (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles).
Acknowledgments
P Szelelwski, Mike Collins
