Name
Harold Reuben Tavener
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/04/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
425753
Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment)
29th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIMY MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Stevenage Old Town Memorial,
St Nicholas' Church Memorial, Stevenage Old Town,
Holy Trinity Church Memorial Roll of Honour, Stevenage Old Town
Pre War
Harold was born in Fulham, London, on the 22nd June 1882, the son of Reuben William and Jemima Tavener. The family later made their home at “Homeleigh”, Essex Road, Stevenage. Harold emigrated to Canada in 1908.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the Canadian Army on the 19th July 1916 and, after his training, was posted to France. On the 17th April 1917 his Battalion was in a support area east of Neuville St. Vaast and the Unit War Diary shows that there was no enemy activity. However, it does record that 1 man was killed and 2 others wounded, probably as the result of artillery shell fire.
He has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial to the Canadian Forces.
Additional Information
Reuben is also commemorated on the family headstone in Stevenage (St. Nicholas) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF HAROLD REUBEN TAVERNER THEIR [Reuben & Jemima Taverner] SON,
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE ON VIMY RIDGE, APRIL 16TH(*1) 1917. AGED 34.
WHO GAVE HIS LIFE ON VIMY RIDGE, APRIL 16TH(*1) 1917. AGED 34.
*1 The CWGC record his death as a day later.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
