Harry enlisted for war immediately; he was a Driver (service number 795558 with the Royal Horse
Artillery & Royal Field Artillery, 241st Brigade & 69th Brigade. Harry would be classed as part of
“The British Expeditionary Force” which would refer to those forces in France prior to the end of
the First Battle of Ypres on 22nd November 1914. The B.E.F. remained the official name of the
British armies in France and Flanders throughout WW1. Emperor Wilhelm II of Ger many was
famously dismissive of the BEF, allegedly issuing an order on 19th August 1914 to “exterminate....
the treacherous English and walk over General French’s contemptible little army.” Hence, in later
years, the survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves “The Old Contemptibles”. No evidence
of any such order being issued by the Kaiser was ever found.
(Battle of Ypres)
Harry was admonished for overstaying his leave from midnight on 2nd May 1915 until 3rd May
1915, a total of 13 hours, and his punishment was a forfeit of one day’s pay.
On 12th January 1917 Harry was hospitalised with dysentery for 42 days in Liverpool. He was
probably sent to Fazakerley Hospital in Liverpool, where in WW1 they treated some 153 officers
and 4204 other ranks. It was used by the military for the treatment of soldiers injured during the
fighting on the front.
Harry was then transferred for a further 38 days convalescence to hospital in Hampshire. While the
soldiers were in hospital or convalescing they wore a blue suit, made of flannel and flannelette
combination: they resembled ill-fitting pyjamas. The Government required that the uniform should
be worn at all times by soldiers of non-officer ranks, who were receiving treatment in military
hospitals and convalescent homes. The authorities exempted officers from wearing the “blue”
providing them with a white armband decorated with the red King’s Crown.