Name
Harry Kitchener
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/06/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
31598
Bedfordshire Regiment
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S STORTFORD OLD CEMETERY
C. 9. 8A.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
LINKS WHICH REACH FROM HEAVEN ABOVE UNITE US STILL IN PERFECT LOVE
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial,
United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford
Pre War
Harry Kitchener was born in 1898 in Bishop's Stortford, the youngest son of Henry and Sarah Kitchener.
On the 1901 Census, when he was 3, the family were living at 14 Bartholomew Road, Bishop's Stortford, but by the 1911 Census, when he was schoolboy, the family had moved along the road to 29 Bartholomew Road and Harry was a factory lad at a mineral water works. He was living in Bedford at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Bedford and served in the Bedfordshire Regiment. Harry was an Acting Corporal with the 3rd Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment and was on leave when he was killed by bombs from enemy aircraft whilst visiting relatives in London. Up to 20 German Gotha aeroplanes carried out their first daylight bombing raid on London on 13 June 1917 just before midday. They were met with anti-aircraft fire from the ground, but still managed to drop an estimated 100 bombs. 162 were killed and 439 injured in the 15 minute daylight attack on the East End and the City. One bomb fell on Upper North Street school in Poplar, killing 18 children. Another crashed on to a railway station, hitting a train. A memorial was erected in Poplar to the children from Upper North Street school who died.
A local newspaper reported his death under the heading "Stortford Victim in London Air Raid" It stated that Corporal Harry Kitchener, the youngest son of Mrs H J Kitchener, was home on leave and went to visit relatives in London. Unfortunately he was killed in a German aeroplane raid. His body was brought back to Bishops Stortford and he was interred at the cemetery "in the presence of a sympathising gathering". The service was conducted by the Rev. T H Hughes, many mourners joined his immediate family and many floral tributes were placed on his grave. At one time Corporal Kitchener was employed by Mr F R Muffett, fishmonger, of Potter Street.
Additional Information
His mother Sarah was granted a war gratuity of £4, and pay owing of £7 7s 2d but was refused a dependant's pension as he was killed in an air raid whilst on leave.
His mother, Mrs Sarah Kitchener, 27 Bartholomew Rd, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "LINKS WHICH REACH FROM HEAVEN ABOVE UNITE US STILL IN PERFECT LOVE"
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jenny Clough
