Name
Harry Coster
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/02/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25449
Northamptonshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AVELUY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
M. 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK & THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Dagnall Street Baptist Church, St Albans, St Stephens Parish Obelisk, Park Street. St Albans, Leavesden WW1 Memorial, All Saints Church, Watford, Leavesden (2nd Memorial), Watford), Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Frogmore, We are not aware of any memorial in Bricket Wood to the villagers
Pre War
Harry was the oldest son of Edward COSTER and Eva (nee WARNER) of Waterdale, Watford. Harry was born in 1888 in St Alban’s [not Watford], and was baptised on 29 Jul 1888 at All Saints, Leavesden, Herts.
On the 1891 Census Harry was living with his parents and sister, Annie L (born 1891) at Black Boy Wood , Leavesden. On the 1901 Census, aged 13, he was living at Waterdale, Leavesden, with his parents and brothers Bertie Thomas (born 1893), Thomas William David (born 1894), George Edward (born 1896) and sister Annie. On the 1911 Census, a cowman on a farm, aged 22, Harry was living at Garston Cottage, Waterdale, Watford, with his parents and brothers Thomas (a stable boy) and George (a telegraph boy).
Harry married in 1913 in the St Alban’s district to Florence M Muskett. Florence never remarried and died 1924 in the Guildford district, Surrey, aged 34. His parents later lived at Mount Pleasant Lane, Bricket Wood, St. Albans.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted in St Alban’s, Herts as Private 25549 in the Northamptonshire Regiment. Unfortunately, his Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Harry was posted to 6th (Service) Battalion of his regiment, which had been in France since July 1915 as part of 18th (Eastern) Division taking part in battles of the Somme ( Albert, Bazentin Ridge, Delville Wood, Thiepval Ridge and Ancre Heights. On 17 – 18 Feb 1917 the Division was involved in Operations on the Ancre at Miraumont. During this action Harry was wounded and death from these wounds was recorded as 19 Feb 1917.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. F. E. Coster, of Hanstead Cottages, Bricket Wood, St. Albans, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "UNTIL THE DAY BREAK & THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY".
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of 12s 2d was paid to his widow. She was living at Hanstead Cottages, Bricket Wood, St. Albans, Herts.
His brothers Bertie Thomas served as Driver 668 and 890576 with Royal Field Artillery and survived although being discharged (invalided due to sickness); George served as Pte 18987, 7th Northamptonshire Regiment and killed in action on 16 Jun 1917; Thomas served in the Labour Corps 22601 and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes
