Name
Harry Cousins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31852
Hertfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 4-5
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Harry was born on 7 August 1896 in Hitchin and his parents were George and Betsy (believed née Cousins) they married in 1884
In 1901 the family were living at 6 Duke's Lane, Hitchin. Present were both parents: George (42) and Betsy (36), with George working as a horse keeper on a farm. Their children were: William (16), Bertie (10), Henry (Harry - 4) and Frank (1). A sister, Alice Turner (21) was also present.
In 1911 the family were still living at 6 Duke's Lane, Hitchin. Present were both parents, George now working as a carman. The census recorded they had been married for 27 years with 6 children of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above were present, with Harry now 14 and working as a coach painter.
Before joining up he had spent five years as an apprentice at Ralph E. Sanders & Son, car agents and body-builders of Hitchin and was well thought of there.
Officially Harry was recorded as born in Hitchin and living there when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted on 10 October 1916 and was initially in the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment but later attached to the Hertfordshires as Private 31852. After training went to France on New Year’s Day 1917.
He was gassed at Easter 1917 and he was home on leave in January 1918 but was killed in action during the advance of 1918 at Achiet le Grand near Bapaume. Postcards from his kitbag were found on the battlefield by Private A Larwood of the Essex Regiment.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial to the Missing at Haucourt in France.
Additional Information
His pension cards record Betsy his mother as his next of dependant, living at 6 Duke’s Lane, Hitchin. Also at 23 Bunyan Road, Hitchin – probably later. She was awarded a pension of 7s a week from 11 March 1919.
She was later recorded as dying on 23 August 1918
*1 The CWGC wrongly records Betsy as his wife not his mother.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
