Name
Harold Rolph
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202554
Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
2nd/4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NEW IRISH FARM CEMETERY
V. H. 2.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Wheathampstead Village Memorial
Pre War
Harold was born 1898 at Little Cutts, Wheathampstead. On the 1911 census he was living with his widowed grandmother at Bowers Heath, Wheathampstead, Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Harold enlisted in the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry regiment as Private 6256 (possibly as a Territorial) in 2/4 Battalion and was renumbered as 202554 when the Battalion, including Herbert, was fully mobilised from being Home Serve and Reserve, and went to France on 24 May 1916.
The Battalion was involved in Battle of Fromelles and in the advance to the Hindenberg Line. 2/4 Battalion, Ox & Bucks were part to the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917 and attacked strong points Pond farm and Hindu Cot. Hebert was killed in this action of the 22nd August 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 10s and Arrears of £5 10s 9d paid to his grandmother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
