L/Cpl 31507 Henry Hargreaves

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 1st August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Henry Hargreaves was born 25^th June 1896 in Liverpool and was baptised on the 30^th July 1896 at St Peter's C. of E. Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Henry Hargreaves and his wife Clara (nee Sanders). His parents married in 1887.

On the 1901 census he is aged 7 born in Liverpool and living with his parents and two siblings at 6 N.Castle Street, Stafford. His father Henry is a 39 year old railway brakesman born in Accrington, whilst his mother Clara is 32 years of age and was born in Birmingham. His siblings, both born in Liverpool are shown as; Emma aged 10  and Alfred aged 2. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 37 Troughton Street, Edge Hill Liverpool.His father, Henry, is aged 50, born 1861 occupation millinery warehouse porter, his mother, Clara, is aged 42. They have been married for 22 years and have had ten children of which one had died. Those listed on the Census are; Emma aged 20, is a wire winder, Henry aged 14, is a van lad for a wholesale grocery, Alfred aged 12, born 1899, Frank aged 9, born 1902 and Dorothy aged 4, born 1907 are at school, Ada aged 4, born 1907, Leonard aged 2, born 1909 and Stanley born 1911. They also have two boarders living with them Michael Riley a widow aged 50, born 1861 a corporation labourer and Patrick Dempsey aged 43, born 1868 a bricklayers labourer both from Guilcagh, Ireland. All the children were born in Liverpool apart from Frank who was born in Stafford.

Henry enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Corporal No 31507 when he was killed in action on the 1st August, 1917 aged 21 during the third Battle of Ypres.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd August 1917.

KILLED IN ACTION

Lance Corporal H. Hargreaves was killed in action on August 1, 1917. Second son of Henry and Clara Hargreaves, 37a Edge Lane, Liverpool. Previously to joining the Army he worked for the Leyland Line and was educated at St Mary's Edge Hill schools. [Leyland Line Shipping] 

His father died shortly after Henry, his death registered in the December quarter of 1917.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Clara.

Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

He was remembered on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 01st August 1918

HARGREAVES - In loving memory of my dearest son Lance Corporal HENRY HARGREAVES, killed in action, August 1, 1917. ( Only those who have lost know the meaning of the word gone.) - His sorrowing Mother and all at 37 Edge Lane, Liverpool.

Henry is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 56.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1950 aged 81. 

We currently have no further information on Henry Hargreaves, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.