Harry Field 1896-1915

Harry Field (picture from Memories of Barnsley issue 13)

Born:
1896 in Barnsley, Yks (Q2 9c 216)
Baptised at Barnsley St George's on 11 November 1896
(address 97 Princess Street, Barnsley)

Son of:
Albert Field b.1872 in Barnsley, d.1943 in Barnsley
1911: Brass Finisher at 4 Mount Street
married at St George's Barnsley on 1st February 1892 to
Margaret Field (maiden name Fevers) b.1872 in Barnsley, d.1940 in Barnsley

Position in family: The eldest son and third child of seven children
1. Ethel Field b.1893
2. Isabel Field b.1894
3. Harry Field b.1896 WW1 KILLED
4. Zilpha Field b.1899
5. Alice Field b.1901
6. Margaret Field b.1902
7. Alexander Graham Field b.1904

Home address, age and occupation:
1901: 11 Waterloo Road, Barnsley
1911: 4 Mount Street, Barnsley aged 14, Glass Bottle makers Apprentice
1914 on enlistment: 4 Mount Street, Barnsley aged 17, Glasshand at Redfearns Glassworks

Military Service:
Enlisted in the Territorials: 23 January 1914 at the age of 17 years 9 months
Arrived in France 13 April 1915
Regiment and Battalion:    1st/5th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment
Service number and rank:  1833 Private
Awards: 1915 star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Personal information:   
(at age 17 years 9 months) 5' 1" tall, 33" chest, good vision, fair physical development 
(at age 18 years 30 days) 5' 5" tall, 35" chest,

Death:     25 May 1915 aged 19 years
Buried at: Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier
Grave Reference: G 27

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Albert and Margaret Field, of 4 Mount Street, Barnsley

Remembered:
Barnsley, Redfearn Brothers Glassworks & Aldham Works
Barnsley Swimming Club, Race Street, Barnsley
 
Notes:
 
From the Spring 2010, issue no.13 of Memories of Barnsley:

"Harry joined the Barnsley Territorials and was recognised as an excellent shot, and in open competitions at the Drill Hall he was amongst the prize winners.  He was also a keen footballer and cross-country runner.  Harry’s death was mentioned in a letter home by Private R Featherstone: ‘On Monday night, 24 May, about 8 o’clock we were told that a bombardment of the German trenches was to take place and on the stroke of the hour eighty big guns were bursting forth their large and deadly shells.  This went on for an hour, the explosions were like thunder and the earth trembled.  The place was like an inferno.  The Germans were retaliating and their shells burst all around us.  At half-past three the following morning I was standing next to Harry Field and the last words he said to me were “Cocky, I am going to sleep with thee.”  But Harry never came!  I shall never forget it as long as I live.  We had not been asleep above quarter of an hour when Private A Reed came and woke me up saying that poor Harry Field was dead and Percy Hague had been wounded.  A shell had burst where they were sleeping.  This is the fifth night in the trenches and we are ready for a rest.  It makes you think of home when you see a night like this.  We all send our deepest sympathy to Mr and Mrs Field."   
...................................

His personal effects were returned to his family - Two discs, a watch, a prayer book, a safety razor, a comb and a pocket book. (Information from his Army Service Records on Ancestry)