Name
Charles Harpin
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/07/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
124744
Royal Field Artillery
"A" Battery, 90th Brigade,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUS HOUSE CEMETERY
F. 12.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Until the day breaks and shadows flee away
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Charles (junior) was born in 1893 in Cambridge and then christened on 6 August 1893 at St. Marys, Hitchin, Hertford, England. His parents were Charles James Harpin and Emma Harpin (née).
In 1901 the family were living at 3 Lancaster Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Charles (33) and Emma (35), with Charles (senior) working as a bricklayer. Their children were: Charles (7) and Ethel (6). Two others were present: Millicent Clutley (Visitor) and Robert Persons (Boarder).
By 1911 the family had moved to at 8 Grove Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Charles (senior) now working as a journeyman bricklayer. The census recorded they had been married for 18 years with 3 children, all living. Their children listed were Charles now 17 and a grocer’s assistant apprentice, Ethel was dressmaker’s apprentice, and they now had a new brother Frederick (8).
He had worked for Messrs Halsey & Son in Hitchin before joining the Army, having worked earlier at the Letchworth Co-operative Stores where he had served his apprenticeship.
He enlisted in Hitchin in April 1916, officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin – both census record Cambridge) and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts
Wartime Service
Charles was given the Regimental Number 124744. He went to France in July 1916 serving in ‘A’ Battery of the 90th(CWGC *1) Brigade in the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action by a bursting shell in Belgium and his place of burial would seem to be close to where the 90th Brigade were positioned immediately south of Hooge.
The above extract is probably only partially correct as there does not appear to have been a 90th Brigade in the Royal Field Artillery. However, there was a 90th Infantry Brigade serving as part of the 18th (Eastern) Division south of Hooge at the time of his death. The 90th Infantry Brigade was served by the 82nd and 83rd Brigades Royal Field Artillery with ‘A’ Battery in each case equipped with 18 pounder guns. Both Brigades suffered considerable casualties about the 22nd July 1917 as the shelling prior to the opening of Third Ypres (Passchendaele) on the 31st July 1917 reached its climax.
News of his death Charles’s Major who wrote that Gunner Harpin was killed instantly by a bursting shell.
He was buried in Row F, Grave 11 in the Bus House Cemetery in Belgium. This cemetery is in Voormezele and is named after a London omnibus which had broken down while taking troops to the front late in 1914. There is a private inscription on the stone which probably reads "Until the day breaks and shadows flee away".
Additional Information
After his death £4 13s 1d was authorised to go to his mother, Emma, on 5 December 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £4 10s was authorised to be paid to her, on 7 November 1919.
His pension cards record Emma Harpin, his mother, as his dependant, living at 8 Grove Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 19 November 1919.
*1 Other records suggest the 190th.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
