Harold was the son of a master printer. On 14 August 1914, with the war less than a month old, the Shipley Times & Express mentioned Harold as one of the first Baildon men to sign up to the colours. At that stage he was training in York. Ten months later, he was at the front, and the newspaper carried details of a letter he had sent to Mr Levi Thorpe, the secretary of the Baildon Golf Club in which he said: “Just a line to let you know how I appreciate the good wishes of the president, vice-president, committee and members of Baildon Golf Club expressed on the beautiful card just received. “I hardly think there is any credit due to me, however, as I consider all able-bodied men of suitable age

and condition, especially sportsmen, should at this time do their utmost to help their country. “I am sure that when a roll is taken of the members of the Baildon Golf Club, the percentage of those serving will be very high and will compare favourably with any other golf club. “As you know I am with several other Baildon boys and we sometimes forget the war for a short period and think of the glorious times spent on the links, often replaying a game hole by hole and finding keen enjoyment in doing so. “We are being treated very well here. Nevertheless, I shall be glad when I can once more feel a golf bag on my back instead of my rifle

and a few good balls in place of ammunition. “I am writing this by candle light in a diminutive dug-out with three other chaps close at hand having a free fight for a copy of the Times & Express.” Harold was killed on 7 May 1918 but a brief report gave no deails of the circumstances On 28 June 1918, the newspaper reported: A vote of sympathy with Mr W T Field, Clerk to Baildon Military Tribunal, in the loss of his only child in the war was passed at their last hearing. It was proposed by the Chairman who himself recently had a son killed in action. “It is a sad blow to anyone to lose a child,” he remarked, “but it must be infinitely more painful to lose the only child.

I’m grateful to Tish Lawson for her help in researching the men of Baildon who served

“Those with a large family feel the vacant chair, as many of us have felt, but I am sure we all understand how intensely sad parents must feel at the loss of their only one. “Harold Field has laid down his life for others and I feel very much the loss of this boy because he had been in the habit of coming to my house which was an open house to all the companions of my boys. “I have always felt that there was not a more manly or cleaner living boy that I knew than Harold Field. “It is on record that he enlisted amongst the first volunteers the day war was declared and I think the majority of deep-thinking men and women appreciate very deeply the courage and patriotism of the boys who rushed into the army at first. “If those others who are asked to serve do their duty as well as Harold Field did, we shall not fall short.”