Name
Glen Harland
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/07/1915
17
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
2104
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GIBRALTAR (NORTH FRONT) CEMETERY
C. 3026.
Gibraltar
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Memorial, Bushey Heath, ROH, St George's Chapel, St Peter’s Church, Bushey Heath
Pre War
Born in the last quarter of 1896 in Croydon, Surrey, Ernest Gordon G (Glen) Harland was the eldest son of Ernest Albert and Alice Maude (née Glennie) Harland. Earnest was born in Chelmsford and Alice in Kingsland, London. His parents were married in the second quarter of 1894, recorded in the St George Hanover Square registration district. They had six children, one of whom died during childhood. Ernest Snr. was a fish hawker.
At the 1901 Census, Glen (Earnest Jnr.) was four and living at 59 Furze Road, Croydon with his 32-year-old father, a Chemist, his 27-year-old mother and two sisters; Caroline M M, who was 5 and Isadora L, who was two.
By the 1911 Census they had moved to 13 School Lane, Bushey. Glen was then fourteen and employed as an errand boy at a private house. Also present were Ernest Snr. (age 42), Alice (age 37), Maude (age 15), Dora (age 12), Albert (age 8) and Horace (age 5). Ernest was a fish hawker ‘Working on his Own Account.’ Maude, Glen and Dora were all born in Croydon, Albert in Twickenham and Horace in East Ham, Essex.
Glen enlisted on 11 March 1914 in the 7th Reserve Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. He was then 17 years and four months old, had left home and was living at 62, Salisbury Road, Barnet. He was employed as a baker’s assistant at Williams Brothers on Barnet High Street.
Wartime Service
Having previously enlisted prior to the war in the Reserve Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, Glen Harland served at Home between 5 August 1914 and 31 January 1915 and was promoted (unpaid) to Lance Corporal 2104 on 7 September 14. He was given 3 days Confined to Barracks on 23 September 14 due to creating a disturbance after lights out.
Glen was posted to Gibraltar from 1 February 1915 and served there until his death on 6 July 1915, when he was accidentally drowned, age 17, at Sandy Bay. A Court of Enquiry was held at Bueno Vista and took statements from seven witnesses. The following is a transcription of the statement from one of these, a Private S E Caudle:
“This morning (6 July 1915) I proceeded as one of a fatigue party under Lance Corporal Harland’s orders to Sandy Bay block house. On arriving at the north end of Sandy Bay we undressed and bathed. Corporal Harland was the first to enter water getting there about three minutes before the others. I did not notice him further until I heard a cry for help. I am not a strong swimmer but I went to his help but it being so rough I failed to get anywhere near him and had to turn back. He was then about from thirty five to forty yards from the shore. Private Turney went to his assistance before I did, but had to turn back as well. Some Spaniards brought some rope and Private Newton and I tied it to Private Hainer who with Private Turney attempted to reach Corporal Harland. The rope was too short and the attempt failed. He afterwards disappeared and I did not see him again until his body was dragged ashore by Lieutenant Kay and Sergeant Burgess. The condition of the sea at the time was very rough. There was a good deal of surf breaking and there was a strong under-current.”
Glen is remembered with honour at the Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, having served for a total of 1 year and 118 days. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St Peter’ Church, Bushey Heath.
His pension record card has an application date of 18/02/19 and gives his mother’s address as 34, Merry Hill Mount, Bushey.
Additional Information
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
