Biography – Gunner Harry Booth

Family situation

• Born in Pipe Gate but was living with parents, Frank and Matilda, at Balterley when he enlisted; 5 of his siblings also lived there.
• He was the second son and the only one of the family not to have been born in Betley
• He was 5 ft 8hlf, had fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
• He was 19 yrs. 8 months when he enlisted.

 Employment

• A surface haulage man for ‘Midland Coal, Coke and Iron Co.’ at Apedale, Chesterton.
• Because their iron products were used by the War Department, the Company tried to get Harry exempted from service in Dec 1915. He was regarded as a starred, indispensable workman. They didn’t succeed.

Service

• Harry was called to service and enlisted in Audley in May 1916.
• In October 1916 he sailed from Southampton for France with the British Expeditionary Force as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Later that month he was posted to 11^th Siege battery of the RGA.
• He was hospitalised for 2 weeks in Feb. 1917.           
• On 27^th November he died in a Main Dressing Station from wounds he received that day.

Buried

• Minty Farm Cemetery, Langemarck – just north of Ypres in a cemetery with 200 others.
• Langemarck-Poelkapelle, West-V Grave No. II B.20