Born: 12 July 1888, Listerhills, Bradford
Died: 14 October 1917
Buried: NKG
Address: 21 Hatfield Road, Undercliffe
Parents: Thomas William & Ann, nee Flather
Spouse: Frances May, nee Snow
Siblings: Abraham
Occupation: Stuff warehouseman
Organisations/clubs: Eccleshill Wesleyan Chapel choir
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill Park; Ploegsteert Memorial
Children: Gladys, Frances
Regiment: Lincolnshire
Harry Read
Harry Read was born on the 12th of
July 1888 in Bradford the elder son
of Thomas William and Mary Ann,
nee Flather.
They were living at 16 Grantham
Road in Listerhills when Harry was
born
Harry’s mother, Mary Ann, died on
the 10th of August 1898 at The
Junction Hotel in Baildon and
Thomas’s two sisters came to live
with the family. Thomas re-married
in 1905.
Harry in 1911 was living at Acre
Farm, Acre Avenue with the family
of his future wife and was working
as a stuff warehouseman.
On the 2nd of September 1911
Harry married Frances May Snow,
22 years the daughter of
Francis Snow a farmer.
At the time of Harry’s
enlistment the family
were living at 21 Hatfield
Road, Undercliffe and a
daughter, Gladys, had
been born to them in
1913.
He enlisted on the 28th
of February 1917 as Private 41554
in the 2nd Battalion of the
Lincolnshire Regiment.
His Regiment was involved in the
Battle of Ypres taking part in the
Battle of Pilkem 31st July to the
2nd August and the Battle of
Langemarck 16th to the 18th of
August 1917.
They were not involved
further at Ypres but Harry
and three others were killed
by a shell on the 14th of
October 1917. He was 29
years of age. Around this
time his second daughter
Frances was born, probably
posthumously.
Harry does not have a burial
place as he is remembered on the
Ploegsteert Memorial which
commemorates men who died in
this sector and who have no known
grave. Most were killed in the
course of the day to day trench
warfare which characterised this
part of the line.
2nd Lieutenant H Durrans in a
letter of regret appended the
following lines:
May the sons of England who have bled
With noble thoughts their blood have
shed
And given up their life, their all
At the distressed country’s call
Accept at God’s most holy shrine
“Well done, thou faithful, thou art mine”
A Memorial Service was held for
Harry at the Eccleshill Wesleyan
Chapel when the Rev. J Woollerton
conducted the service for him.
Harry had been a member of the
Chapel Choir for about 10 years.
Harry left his effects to his widow
Frances who received £1.19.10d on
the 12th March 1918 and a War
Gratuity of £3.0.0d on the 17th
November 1919.
.
Researched and written by Jean Britteon,
to whom many thanks
