Name
Henry Haggerwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/04/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14315
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints Church Roll of Honour, Sandon, All Saints Church Clock, Sandon
Pre War
Son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Haggerwood of Mill End, Sandon.
Wartime Service
Henry joined the Bedfords and went out to France in April 1915 but did not survive the month for he was killed on the infamous Hill 60 S.E. of Ypres in Belgium on 21st.
This so-called hill was an artificial mound of earth excavated from the railway cutting near-by. This mound was on the southern portion of the Ypres Ridge, and gave the enemy good observation towards Zillebeke and Ypres and was therefore of great tactical importance.
The 1st. Beds and the East Surreys took over the front line on April 18th. and endured heavy shelling until 19th.. On the 20th. the Germans made a series of bombing attacks in the morning which were repulsed but the battalion had its first experience of flame-throwers. At 2pm. the enemy began a heavy bombardment which lasted for 4 hours and was followed by 2 attacks at 6pm. and 8pm. By this time every semblance of a trench had disappeared and the hill was little more than a rubbish heap, thickly strewn with dead of both sides. Organised control of the defence of the hill was impossible but the hill WAS held due to the gallantry and initiative of the men of the Bedfords and East Surreys.
Relief came in the form of the 1st, Devons and the remnants of the battalion were moved back in the direction of Ypres where the Divisional Commander handed out cigarettes to the men as they passed!
The following morning the battered battalion moved back to camp at Reninhelst where the Commander-in-chief, Sir John French made a short speech and congratulated the battalion on its magnificent stand and good work on Hill 60. At roll call that day, only just over 100 men were left out of a total of 630...and some of these were slightly wounded or suffering the effects of gas.
Henry Haggerwood was wounded on Hill 60 and whilst being carried down a communication trench was killed outright by an exploding shell. His body lies there with so many others on the hill and as he has no known grave, his name is clearly seen on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres on the same panel (31,33) as his fellow Sandon soldier Archibald Godfrey of the 7th. Bedfords.
Acknowledgments
Jean Handley
