Name
Horace Harding
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19203
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th 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
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
Horace Harding was born in 1886, in Hemel Hempstead and baptised 8 October 1886 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Harding (formerly HARDING, nee HARRIS) who were married in Hemel Hempstead in 1883. He was baptised on 8 October 1886 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead.
His parents married 10 January 1883 at St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. Walter possibly died 1890 in the Bedminster, Somerset, district aged 33. Elizabeth remarried 20 November 1897 at St Paul’s, Hemel Hempstead to Henry TAYLOR, and died 1943 in the Hemel Hempstead district aged 80.
On the 1891 Census, he was living with his widowed grandmother Ann Harris and uncles Jackson and Charles at 2 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead.
His mother was a widow when she remarried on 14 November 1897 at St Paul's Church, Hemel Hempstead to Henry Taylor.
On the 1901 Census, he was living with his mother and stepsister Kate at 2 Lammas Road, Watford and he was working as a mineral water van boy, aged 15. His stepfather Henry Taylor was a serving soldier with the Cavalry at the Colchester Garrison. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
At the outbreak of war, his stepfather, who was then 42, enlisted at Woolwich as a farrier on 30 November 1914 and stated he had served with the Queen's Bays (Dragoon Guards). However, he was discharged on 23 March 1915 as "not likely to become an efficient soldier". He gave his address at the time as 87 Liverpool Road, Watford, Herts.
Horace was recorded as born in Hemel Hempstead and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford and served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment in France from 26 July 1915.
He was presumed dead on or since 1 May 1917 during the Battle of Arras when there was an unsuccessful attack on Cherisy.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France and was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £11 and pay owing of £5 11s 10d. She also received a pension of 10 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
