Name
Harry Hilton
15 October 1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/09/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Air Mechanic 1st Class
F/23228
Royal Naval Air Service
British Adriatic Squadron 6th Wing
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
OTRANTO TOWN CEMETERY
South East corner.
Italy
Headstone Inscription
ONE IN HEART AND ONE IN LOVE WE BELOW AND THEY ABOVE
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock
Pre War
Harry Hilton was born on 15 October 1879 in Stotfold, nr Baldock, the son of Henry and Ellen Hilton, and was baptised on 24 March 1889 in Baldock at the age of 9. He was one of four children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Folly Road, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, where his father was working as a groom. By 1891 they had moved to Baldock and were living at Hitchin Street. They remained in Baldock in 1901 but had moved to Orchard Road, with his father working as a coachman domestic and Harry working as a carpenter.
He married Katie Roberts in 1903 and their son Sidney Harry was born 12 December 1905. On the 1911 Census they were living at Orchard Road, Baldock, at which time Harry was working as a joiner. His parents were then living in Bygrave Road, Baldock.
Harry was captain of the Baldock cricket and football clubs and a member of the Baldock Fire Brigade. He worked as a carpenter for Messrs. T. Raban's and Sons, local builders.
Wartime Service
Harry served with the Royal Naval Air Service from 4 November 1916 and was an Acting Air Mechanic 1st Grade and was sent to Otranto, Italy on 17 March 1917, serving at HMS Queen, the base at Otranto. He was admitted to hospital with pains in the head and subsequently died at the RNAS hospital in Otranto, Italy on 8 September 1917 from heart failure following sandfly fever and enteritis. Harry is buried in the Communal Cemetery, Otranto, Italy.
Additional Information
His widow Kate was initially awarded a pension of 18s 9d a week, later increased to £1 6s 7d, then £1 15s 6d a week. She gave her address as 28 Orchard Road, Baldock. She obtained probate of his estate in London on 15 February 1918 with effects of £277 19s.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
