Name
Harold (Dick) Summerfield
1897
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
777046
Royal Field Artillery
'C' Battery, 282nd Army Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DUHALLOW A.D.S. CEMETERY
I. B. 13.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Harold was born in 1897 in Hitchin, his parents were John and Sarah Summerfield.
In 1901 the family were living at 18 Old Park Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: John (44) and Sarah (42), with x and working as a coachman groom. Their children were: Fred (19), Sidney (17), Reginald (14), Cissie S (9), Harold (3) and Arthur (1).
By 1911 the family had moved to 30 Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, John now working as a general labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 32 years with 8 children, of whom 1 had died. Of the above children Lilian and Reginald are missing and the other have been joined by Hilda (9).
Before joining the army he had been employed at Russell's Tanyard in Hitchin and had been a boy chorister at St. Mary's School. and enlisted there in May 1916.
Officially he was recorded as born in Hitchin and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Harold was originally Gunner 135777 RFA, then laterreceived the Service Number 777046, which may have been a transfer or a renumbering.
He went to France in August 1916 and was killed instantly shortly after arriving by a shell bursting when his Battery was in action in Belgium. The shell came within 50 yards of the gun and killed the Serjeant, Dick and wounding others.
At the time he was a Driver in ‘C’ Battery of the 282nd Army Brigade on the opening day of the Battle of Langemarck. The Battery was equipped with 18 pounder guns. His death occurred probably in the vicinity of Wieltje, approximately one mile north of Ypres towards the front line between St. Julien and Frezenberg in support of XIX Corps.
He was buried in Plot I, Row B, Grave 13 in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
His brother Arthur was killed in action on the 6th June 1918.
After his death £6 3s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, John, on 1 January 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to him on 28 October 1919.
Harold and Arthur share a pension card which records their mother, Sarah , as their dependant, her address was 30 Union Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 10s a week.
SDITGW incorrectly gives his service number as 77046.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
