Name
Henry Thomas Worrall
1 Mar 1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1918
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17284
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AIRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. G. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY ALL WHO LOVED HIM LOVING MUM, DAD SISTERS, BROTHERS
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Not on the Batford memorials
Pre War
Henry Thomas was born in Whitechapel London in 1897 to Henry Worrall, a tailor, and Alice (nee Snell).
On the 1901 the family were living in Leytonstone, London. And on the 1911 Census they had moved to Belmont Cottages, Batford.
Wartime Service
Henry volunteered in Sep 1914 for The Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 172514 and went to France on 24 Sep 1915 to join 1st Battalion in their positions near Fricourt.
The 1st Battalion took part in Battles of the Somme 1916; in the attacks on High Wood (20 - 25 Jul), at Longueval (27 - 30 Jul), the Battle of Guillemont (specifically the capture of Falfemont Farm 3 - 6 Sep) and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (specifically the Battle of Morval on 25 Sep). In 1917 they were at the Battle of Arras, specifically at the attack on La Coulotte in Apr 1917 and the Third Battle of the Scarpe in May 1917. They were also involved in the capture of Oppy Wood in June that year. During the Battles of Ypres 1917 (known as the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele), the battalion were engaged in the Battles of Broodseinde and Poelcapelle in October as well as the Second battle of Passchendaele in October and November, before being moved to help stabilise the front in Italy following the disastrous battle of Caporetto.
In 1918 the battalion were rushed back to the Western Front in response to the German Spring Offensives and fought in the Battle of the Lys, specifically in the Battle of Hazebrouck, during the defence of the Nieppe Forest. Henry was wounded on 26 Apr 1918 (War Diary records 3 ORs wounded) and was treated at 39 Casualty Clearing Station for wounds to chest and abdomen and died from his wounds on 28 April 1918.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £17 and arrears of £15 18s 11d was paid to mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk), Jonty Wild
