Name
Harry Hollingsworth
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/08/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2658
East Surrey Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 B and 6 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St May the Virgin Church Plaque, Clothall
Pre War
Harry was born in 1888 (baptised 1 Jul 1888, Clothall) the second son of Joseph Hollingsworth and Emma (nee Saunders). Family were living at Hickman’s Hill, Clothall.
On the 1891 Census Harry and the family of parents, older brother William and sisters Louisa, Emma and Elizabeth were at Hickman’s Hill. Harry’s father, Joseph, was an agricultural labourer working at Clothall Bury Farm. The 1901 Census records the family of parents, Harry, now an agricultural worker (horsekeeper) aged 13, and Ellen, his sister Ellen (born 1893) still living at Hickman’s Hill. By the 1911 Census records only Ellen living at Hickman’s Hill with her parents. Clothall Bury Farm records (loaned by Simon Holtom) for 1913 show Joseph and son William working at the farm. Harry’s record could not be found on the 1911 Census, although the farm records mentioned above record him being paid for work around 1913.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted as Private 2658 in the East Surrey Regiment. His number seems to follow the pattern of 1st or 2nd Battalion enlistments or Militia engagements prior to the Great War but no service record could be found to confirm this.
He went to France on 6 Mar 1915. The 7th (Service) Battalion did not go to France until Jun 1915, so Harry may have been a replacement in some other Battalion of the East Surreys and transferred to 7th Battalion on their arrival at the front (‘stiffening’ to the Military).
The 7th took part in the Battle Loos 1915 and in 1916 were moved to the Ovillers on the Somme. They were involved in the Battle of Pozieres and on 2 Aug 1916 attacked from Ovillers with the intention of destroying the enemy garrison of Thiepval. During this attack Harry was killed in action.
His death was recorded as 3 Aug 1916, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s paid to his father Joseph and arrears of 15s was paid to his mother Emma
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Jean Handley
