| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Harold was born in Beverley in Feb 1895 and was baptised in Beverley Minster in Apr 1895 as Harold Horner. In 1901, Harold Horner, aged 6, was listed as the “adopted son” of George Thomas Gilbertson a tanners labourer and his wife Anne Elizabeth (nee Hoggard), living in Bogle Lane. George and Anne had no children of their own. When Harold attended Minster Boys’ School in July 1902 he was enrolled as Harold Gilbertson. He had previously attended Flemingate Infants School. He left school in Jul 1909 and was a butchers errand lad in the 1911 census. In 1910, aged 15, Harold joined the Beverley Church Lads’ Brigade, and remained a member until he reached the Brigade’s age limit and left on his 19th birthday. He was a Lance Corporal in the Brigade and was reported to be of ‘very good character’ and ‘Good Ambulance’.
In Jan 1915 he enlisted in the 3rd Reserve Northumbrian Field Ambulance Corps, Royal Army Medical Corps, remaining in the UK until Sep 1916 when he embarked to Salonika where he served until Apr 1919. Having returned to the UK he was discharged on demobilisation on 31 Mar 1920, having served for 5 years and 85 days. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
Back in civilian life Harold was employed at the tanyard in Beverley and in Sep 1922 he married Minnie Leah Buck, they did not have any children. In the 1939 Register they are living in Warton Avenue, Beverley and Harold, employed as a leather tanner, was also a tanyard ARP Warden. The tanyard had a comprehensive medical centre for the welfare of its workers and it is known that Harold was employed within the Centre during the 1950s.
Harold died in 1971.
Includes information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |