L/Cpl 50701 Harry Gainford

• Age: 28
• From: Bootle, Cumberland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Harry Gainford was born in the third quarter of 1889 in Bootle, Cumberland the son of Henry Gainford and his wife Mary Ann (nee Wilson). His parents married in 1879.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Brow Top, Holmside, Irton and Santon, Bootle, Cumberland. Harry shown on the Census as Henry is 1 year old. His father also Henry is a Blacksmith born in Egremont, Cumberland in 1851, whilst his mother Mary Ann was born in Bootle in 1847. They have 5 children in the household all shown as having been born in Bootle, Cumberland. Harry's siblings are listed as; Elizabeth Ann b.1881, Joseph b. 1883, Robert b.1884 and Mary Ellen b. 1887. There are also two apprentices in the household; Edward Holmes apprentice Blacksmith b. Bootle in 1873 and Jane Riley shown as Domestic Servant b. Millom in 1877. Also present appears to be Henry senior's brother Joseph shown as a Blacksmith b. 1855 at Irton. 

By 1901 Census records the family are now living at Fellgate, Irton, Santon and Melthwaite, Bootle, Cumberland. Both parents are still resident in the property. Harry is now 11 years of age. and his four siblings are still present. Elizabeth Ann now 21 is a Domestic Servant, Joseph 19 is a Blacksmith's apprentice, Robert 16 is a Gamekeepers assistant and Mary Ellen now 14 is not shown as either at school or in employment.

On the 1911 Census, Harry, is aged 21, a gardener living at Sandon Bridge, Holmrook with his parents and three siblings. His father, Henry, is now aged 60 and a  blacksmith, mother Mary Ann is 64 years of age. THey have been married for 32 years and have had 5 children. His siblings are shown as; Elizabeth Ann 30, Joseph 28 blacksmith, and Mary Ellen 24.     

Harry married Susan Rogers in Frizington on 08th September 1915. The wedding must have been before Harry's enlistment as his occupation is shown as a gardener. He is 25 years of age and Susan is 22. They had a daughter named Vera who was born in the December quarter of 1915. 

He enlisted in Frizington, joining the Border Regiment as Private 24335 and following a transfer was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 50701 when he was killed in action on the 28^th April 1918, aged 28, during the German Spring Offensive.

Harry sent a letter home dated Saturday 27th April poignantly his last letter home and written just before he moved off to battle on the eve of his death. We are extremely grateful that Harry's family have given permission for the text of the letter to be reproduced here:

My Dear Susie, 

I am so sorry I have not wrote you a letter before now but we have been on the move and in the line all the time. I have received all your letters now up to date and I am quite pleased to see that you and Vera are both quite well. I think she talks a lot about her daddy, poor little kid. I will be pleased to see you both after this lot because I think about you many a time when in danger.

I was given up this last week to be in Germany’s hands but leave that to me. I fought my way through and got out without a scratch only I had no trousers on or putties. I drove them off in the barbed wire.  I was recommended on my brave stand by our General. I can tell you Susie it was just a fight for life and death  but I may say I mowed them down with my Lewis Gun and also got praised for sticking to my gun and getting back. Well dear, I will tell you all about it when I get home, I don’t know when that will be but I am the first on our list when it does start as I am spitting blood every day expecting it to start.

Well dear you said in one of your letters had you to put (?) on yes you can. I have had a stripe on my arm since I came back from the school. I wish they would send me back to that school for another two months. I could just do with a good rest I have not had a good nights rest for a week. We are moving up tonight for the last time then we are going right back for a rest.

Well Susie I don’t think I had better say any more this time but I will tell you all the news when I get home. You can drop a letter to Mother and tell her I am quite alright. I sent her a field card off today and one for you. I did not think I would have been able to get a letter away. So remember me to All. Father, Mother, Liz, Sid, Flo, Amy and my very best love to you and Vera. 

Your ever loving husband

L/Cpl Gainford

xxxxxxxxx

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Good night and God Bless you All.   


Details of the action in which Harry was killed are contained in the Battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. On the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank. 

Harry's body was either not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Harry was reported as killed in the Weekly Casualty List on 18th June 1918.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Susan, 88 Yeathouse Rd, Frizington(Cumberland).

His widow, Susan remarried in 1919 to Isaac Mulholland.

CWGC records show that he was the husband of Susan Mulholland (formerly Gainford). Her address was given as 132 Main Street, Frizington, Cumberland. She appears on the 1939 register with Isaac in Urmston, Manchester and died in 1971.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1924 aged 76, his father died in the March quarter of 1935 aged 83. 

Harry is also remembered on the following Memorials;

St Paul’s Church, Frizington.

Frizington War Memorial

Irton Plaque

Eskdale Memorial.

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