At the time of the 1901census Harry was living with his parents and siblings at 19 Amelia Street. But by 1911 there had been many changes. His mother had died and his father married Florence and the family were now living at Valley Road. 15- year-old Harry was working as a mill hand. We have just two cuttings about Harry’s service, both published in the Shipley Times & Express on 7 April 1916. The newspaper either didn’t realise his mother had died or decided not to complicate the story: “Mr and Mrs Walter Bolton of 61 Valley Street have given three sons to the colours, one of whom has suffered the supreme sacrifice. “The eldest son, Ambler Bolton, is

on HMS Reliance and has been at the Dardanelles and was in the Suvia Bay battles. “Pte Harry Bolton, of the 20th Lancashire Fusiliers was killed in action on March 17th 1916. “Pte George E Bolton, 1/6 West Yorkshire Regt is a bomber now in France. “Another brother, too young for the services, is a scout in the 1st Baildon Scouts, named Harold Bolton.” A report of a memorial service for Harry was published on another page: “A service was held at the Windhill Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday morning in memory of the late Pte Harry Bolton, son of Mr and Mrs Walter Bolton of Valley Street.

“Mr Thos Luxton, who is the teacher of the Young Men’s Class of which Pte Bolton was a member, said in a short address that the whole object of religion was to make men of the highest type. “To that type Pte Bolton belonged and although in years he was only 20 yet in the best sense of the word he had attained to full manhood. “After having been only five months in the army he had made the supreme sacrifice for his fellows. “Mr Luxton had never heard Pte Bolton say a wrong word or known him be guilty of a wrong action. The impression he had always obtained from the deceased soldier, especially after watching him at his

games, was that he was a trier. “The Rev W Chapman who conducted the service read a pathetic letter from the chaplain containing the intimation of Pte Bolton’s death. He had been brought into the camp severely wounded and died on the same day. “The members of Shipley Volunteer Corps attended the service and the members of the local company of the Boys’ Brigade. The organist was Mr John H Hall who rendered The Dead March in Saul. The Last Post was sounded by a member of the Boys’ Brigade. “It was a most impressive service, all the relations of the late Pte Bolton and many old friends being present.”