Born: 1893, Bradford
Died: 24 September 1918
Buried: Underhill Farm Cemetery
Address: 26 Acre Lane, Eccleshill
Parents: Richard & Mary Ann, nee Middlesbrough
Spouse:
Siblings: 3 and step brother
Occupation: W W Vint, Worsted spinners
Organisations/clubs: Northcote FC; Baptist gymnastic club; Eccleshil junior CC
Military
Rank: Cpl
Medals/awards: Certificate of Merit
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: Bradford Pals
Harold Peel
Harold Peel was born in 1893 in
Bradford the son of Richard and
Mary Agnes, nee Middleborough.
Mary Agnes died in 1898 aged 40
years and was buried in St Luke’s
churchyard. Her address was given
as the Workhouse although the rest
of her family were still at
Northampton Street which means
that she had suffered an illness
which needed nursing.
Richard remarried in 1900 to Annie
Kirby. By 1911 the family had
moved to 26 Acre Lane. Harold, at
17 years of age, was working as an
assistant firer.
He enlisted on the 16th of May
1915 as Private 18/491 in the
15th/17th Battalion of the West
Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of
Wales Own).
In December 1915 they
set sail for Alexandria in
Egypt to defend the
Suez Canal. In March
1916 the 31st Division
left Port Said aboard
HMT Briton bound for
Marseilles in France, a
journey which took 5
days.
They travelled by train
to Pont Remy, a few miles south
east of Abbeville and marched to
Bertrancourt arriving on 29 March
1916.
Their first taste of action was on
the 1st of July on the Somme where
they suffered heavy casualties as
the battle was launched.
Richard received a field
postcard to say that his
son Harold of the 2nd
Bradford Pals had been
seriously wounded.
In 1917 Harold’s
Battalion were in action
in the Battle of Arras and
in early 1918 they were
on the Somme then
moved north into
Flanders for the Battles
of the Lys.
At some point in his service Harold
was promoted to Corporal and had
also been awarded a Certificate of
Merit.
He was killed in action on the 29th
of September 1918 during the
Battle of Polygon Wood from the
26th of September to the 3rd
October 1917. He was 25 years of
age.
Harold is buried in the Underhill
Farm Cemetery which was the
name given to the building on the
north-western edge of Ploegsteert
Wood that was occupied by a
dressing station and the cemetery
which they used is close to the
farm.
He left his effects to his father
Richard who received £8.19.2d on
the 10th February 1919 and a War
Gratuity of £17.10.0d on the 2nd of
January 1920.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
A popular sportsman in the Eccleshill
district in the person of Cpl Harold Peel,
aged 24, of 26 Acre Lane, has been killed.
His parents were notified in a letter dated
30th September, written by Capt C H
Duckett, who said: “It is with deepest
regret that I have to inform you of the
death in action on the 29th of your son, Cpl
Harold Peel, who along with other
members of his gun team, was killed by a
shell which burst amongst them during the
recent advance.
“Your son proved himself to be one of my
best NCOs, both on the field of battle and
in sports, being one of the leading
members of the battalion football team.
“I am expressing on behalf of my officers,
NCOs and men, my deepest sympathy with
you in the great loss you have sustained. I
hope you will find a little consolation in
your sad bereavement in knowing that your
son died nobly, carrying out his duty.”
Cpl Peel enlisted in the Bradford Pals in
February 1915 and was sent to Egypt and
later was drafted to France. He took part in
the Somme battle on 1st July 1916 and was
wounded in five places.
On recovering, he went to France again,
was placed with a gun team and took part
in many important engagements.
He was appointed captain of the 31st
Division football club at the front and was
popular with both officers and men.
Previous to enlisting he was employed by
W W Vint, Worsted Spinners, Victoria
Mills and was captain of the Northcote
Football Club, instructor of the Baptist
gymnasium team and a member of the
Eccleshill junior cricket team when they
won the West Yorkshire cup competition.
He was a member of the 3rd select young
men’s class at the Congregational School.
Shipley Times & Express 11-10-1918