| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Harry Oldfield was born the 24 Jul 1892, the son of George and Mary Oldfield. Harry lived with his parents and siblings at 60 Beckside, though at the time of the 1911 census he was working at Beswick Hall as a groom.
Harry enlisted in the Coldstream Guards on 25 Mar 1913. On 13 Aug 1914 he disembarked in Europe and served through all his Battalion’s actions until 23 Oct 1914 when he was severely wounded by machine gun fire in an action at Langemarke in the first Battle of Ypres. He spent time in the hospital in Cambridge his wounds earned him a Silver Badge and he was discharged from Windsor Barracks on 14 Sep 1915 with a pension of 12s 6d a week.
Twelve days later Harry joined the East Riding Constabulary as a police constable. His police career was short lived as he resigned on 31 Aug 1916 and in Feb 1917 when he married Alice Ann England of Leven, he was an engine driver at Brough. In 1918 Harry and Alice had their first child, John Eric and the year after Olive came along. John Eric died in 1919 and is buried at Leven. Harry and Alice moved to Bridlington where they lived at Kirkgate, Harry became a motor driver. They had further children Harry, Selina and James in Bridlington in the 1920s.
Harry was awarded a Silver Badge, the Victory Medal, the British Medal and the 14 Star. He is listed on the Beckside Roll of Honour.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |