| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Harry Wardell was born in Beverley the 28 Jul 1897, the son of James Wardell, a tanner’s labourer, and Hannah Mary (nee Railton). In 1901 Harry's family lived at 5 George Street, Beverley and by 1911 they had moved to 45 Mill Lane. Harry received a good education at Spencer Street School and worked as a clerk in the offices of John Smith's Brewery, Beverley.
On 25 Mar 1915, aged 17 Harry enlisted in the Coldstream Guards. Following a period of training at the Guards Depot he arrived in France on 21 Dec 1915 with a batch of reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards. The Guards Division had recently moved to the front line in the Lavantie Sector, about six miles south-west of Armentieres. At that time this sector was described as 'a quiet front with little going on'. Nevertheless, the Coldstream casualties were 28 killed and 216 wounded in the three months they served there. On account of his age and previous experience in an office Harry spent fifteen months as Battalion Orderly Room Clerk.
The Guards Division took part in two major battles on the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of Morval. They moved to the Ypres area of Belgium in 1917 and after “abnormally bad weather” which turned the ground to a sea of mud, they fought in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge and the Battle of Menin Road. At the Battle of Poelcapelle the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards were in action near Langemarck, north-east of Ypres, on 9 Oct 1917. It was here Harry was wounded. He died of his wounds later the same day and was buried nearby. He was twenty years old. His death was reported in the Beverley Guardian of 3 Nov 1917. It includes a most moving letter of sympathy to Harry's parents from his Company Commander who wrote:
“He behaved most gallantly, as he has always done in an attack. He was a fine example of a brave man. Coming out here to do his bit, he did it and was always bright and cheerful. He died a Guardsman. I can say no more.”
His grave was lost in the mud of the later battles of the Ypres Salient and now, Harry Wardell has no known grave. His name is inscribed on Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Zonnebeke, West Flanders, Belgium.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |