Died POW in Poland

[Patrick H]

Bit of a long shot but perhaps?

 

Pte 42646 HAROLD LISTER HARLOW 10/Lincolns died (officially accepted)  1.11.18. It appears he was a POW and taken to Poland where he died. He was buried in Heilsberg POW Cem which was destroyed in World War 11. In 2009 the site was re discovered and headstones erected. 

 

I have the census details on the family but would like more. The family still lives in the village of Abridge and always thought he was in the Merchant Navy. I did think maybe this was before the war but he would have been 15 in 1914. He enlisted in Epping some 4 miles from Abridge but I am unable to find his Attestation 

 

I would like to find out (1) a little more info about how his family came to live in Abridge or locally (2) a little more about the 10/Lincs. He could of course been a POW for any length of time but there may be a little more info out there somewhere

 

Any help would be appreciated 

[clk]

Hi,

 

7 hours ago, Patrick H said:

He could of course been a POW for any length of time but there may be a little more info out there somewhere

 

Using this link will take you through to a PoW index card. Then using the numbers 37308, and 42596 in the search box will give you a couple of records. You could then cross reference the date of his capture shown, against the battalion war diary. The records suggest that he was serving with 'C' Company when he was captured (unwounded) at/near Armentieres on 10th April 1918, and that (at least in September 1918) his captivity was administered by the camp at Friedricksfeld/Friedrichsfeld. His death is reported as having occurred on 1st November 1918 in hospital in Heilsberg, as a consequence of a lung infection/pneumonia

 

Regards

Chris

 

Edit:

The amount of war gratuity shown as paid in his Soldiers Effects record is indicative of his service counting from circa April 1917. There is info on the payments here.

 

It might also be worth doing some near number sampling of men in the Lincolnshire Regiment who have surviving papers, from which it may be possible to make some reasonable inferences. For instance, I just looked at a couple, which 'bracket' his 42647 number - 42617 Craddock, and 42658 Jackson. Both of them arrived overseas on 1st February 1918, and were transferred (at the base depot) to the Lincolnshire Regiment (receiving their new number) on 3rd February 1918. 42617 Craddock was posted to the 10th Battalion, and his record notes that he joined them in the field on 7th February 1918. The larger the sample, the better to see if there is a likely underlying pattern.

 

The 10th Bn war diary is here at the National Archives, and here on Ancestry.

Edited 29 December , 2017 by clk

[Patrick H]

Chris, thanks for your help. Following those links I now have everything I need. I also know how the Lister Harlow family came to live in Abridge. Their descendent, my friend, will be delighted with all this information. Her grandmother was the sister of Harold Lister Harlow, and its another one completed for my research. 

 

PS It seems the 10/Lincs were involved in a heroic defence. I have downloaded all the details from the War Diary and have set aside to read it through shortly.

 

Again, many thanks

 

Patrick