Pte 50234 Harry Davison

• Age: 29
• From: Haslingden, Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Harry Davison was born in Rising Bridge, Haslingden on the 05th August 1888. He was the son of William Davison and hsi wife Mary Ellen (nee Dean) who were married in 1873 at Hyndburn. He was baptised at St. James' Church, Haslingden on 16th September 1888.

Harry enlisted in Haslingden and originally served as Private 37996, in the East Lancashire Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 52034 when he was killed in action on the 31^st July 1917, aged 29, during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele).

17^th Battalion Diary records:

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line, troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.  

Harry's body was not recovered or was subsequently losst as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

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.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Sarah, Top O’ the Bank, Roundhill.

Harry's was the second loss that the family had to deal with in just a few months in 1917 as his brother, James, died of wounds, near Oppy on the 15th May 1917. He was serving as Private 35623 in the 11th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment and rests at Ste. Catherine British Cemetery. 

Harry is also commemorated on the Stonefold War Memorial along with his brother, James.

His father, died aged 68, in the March quarter of 1921. His death was registered in Haslingden.

His widow Sarah remarried to Joseph Hall Hopwood in 1921 at St John's Church, Baxenden. They had two sons, Clifford in 1922 and James in 1929.

His mother, died aged 86, in the March quarter of 1938. Her death was registered in Haslingden.

Sarah, with a date of birth of 04th June 1889, appears on the 1939 register at 75 Richmond Street, Accrington with her husband John H. Hopwood and daughter Martha Davison.

Sarah died aged 67 in the September quarter of 1957, her death was registered in Blackburn.

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