Name
William Harradine
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/03/1919
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
70228
Middlesex Regiment
29th Bn.
transf. to (63818) 60th Coy. Labour Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HALLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
A. 1.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Hinxworth Village Memorial, St Nicholas Church, Roll of Honour, Hinxworth
Pre War
William Harradine was born in 1884 in Hinxworth, Herts, the son of Alfred and Johanna Harradine and baptised at Hinxworth on 30 March 1884. He was one of ten children, although four had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in High Street, Hinxworth, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer. They remained in Hinxworth in 1901, living next to the church. Both William and his father were working as farm labourers. By 1911 they had moved to Rose Cottage, Hinxworth. William was single and working as a farm labourer. His older sister Emily Higgs (nee Harradine) was living with William and his parents. (N.B. Rose Cottage is now a listed building which still exists).
His mother died in 1918 and his father in 1920. Both are buried in Hinxworth cemetery. (See additional information below).
Wartime Service
William's medal index card suggests he initially served with the Royal Fusiliers as Private No. 54365 and was later transferred to 60th Company, Labour Corps. as Private No. 63818. The Medal Rolls also confirm this. It seems that only CWGC state he served with 29th Bn. Middlesex Regiment as Private 70228 before being transferred to the Labour Corps.
He died on 20 March 1919 at the 46th Field Ambulance. A pension card states that he died of disease while serving. He is buried at Halle Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £14 and pay owing of £18 8 19. His father applied for a pension on 6 June 1919 but no amount is indicated on pension cards. He was however granted probate of William's estate in London, with effects of £265 16s 4d.
A Mr C Harradine, Rose Cottage, Hinxworth, Baldock, Herts,, ordered his CWGC headstone inscription: "Rest In Peace".
William is also commemorated on his parents' headstone in Hinxworth (St. Nicholas) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
Also of PTE. WILLIAM HARRADINE ROYAL FUSILIERS DEARLY BELOVED YOUNGEST SON OF THE ABOVE [Johanna Harradine] WHO DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE AT HAL [Halle] BELGIUM MARCH 20TH 1919. AGED 36 YEARS
"FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT WITH THY MIGHT."
N.B. words in brackets are not included in the inscription.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
