2nd Lt
Samuel Collis Harding
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 18/09/1893 |
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Place of birth: Leicester, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Foreman Yarn Dyer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — Tank Corps, 'F' Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Keir Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 159 |
Distinctions and medals 4
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 11/03/1920 |
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Military Medal Medal — 11/11/1916 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 11/03/1920 |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Samuel Collis Harding was a foreman yarn dyer from Leicester, UK. Initially he enlisted in the Leicester Regiment as a private. Later he became part of the Tank Corps, 18th Company, ‘F’ Battalion with the rank of Second Lieutenant. At the end of August 1917, his battalion took part in an attack near St. Julien, part of the Battle of Passchendaele.
On the 22nd of August 1917, the 61st Division launched an attack on Pond Farm, Somme Farm and other strong points on the line Winnipeg – Kansas Cross. During this attack, they were supported by the 18th Company ‘F’ Battalion of the Tank Corps. Eight tanks of the ‘F’ Battalion started from Spree Farm and went towards Kansas Cross. Their mission was to help the infantry of the 61st Division as far as possible by dealing with snipers and machine guns. Although the weather was good, the battlefield was a swamp so it was very difficult for the tanks to advance. Still, they managed to support the infantry at several points.
During this attack, Second Lieutenant Harding was the commander of the ‘Fritz Phlattner’ tank. The tank advanced towards Somme Farm and supported the attack. Thereafter the crew pushed forward in the direction of Kansas Cross, but got stuck in the mud at 28D.13d.5.49, near Keir Farm. While unditching the tank Second-lieutenant Harding was killed . His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 159.
On the 22nd of August 1917, the 61st Division launched an attack on Pond Farm, Somme Farm and other strong points on the line Winnipeg – Kansas Cross. During this attack, they were supported by the 18th Company ‘F’ Battalion of the Tank Corps. Eight tanks of the ‘F’ Battalion started from Spree Farm and went towards Kansas Cross. Their mission was to help the infantry of the 61st Division as far as possible by dealing with snipers and machine guns. Although the weather was good, the battlefield was a swamp so it was very difficult for the tanks to advance. Still, they managed to support the infantry at several points.
During this attack, Second Lieutenant Harding was the commander of the ‘Fritz Phlattner’ tank. The tank advanced towards Somme Farm and supported the attack. Thereafter the crew pushed forward in the direction of Kansas Cross, but got stuck in the mud at 28D.13d.5.49, near Keir Farm. While unditching the tank Second-lieutenant Harding was killed . His body was never found. Today, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 159.
Sources 6
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18 company 22 august 1917 https://sites.google.com/site/landships/home/narratives/1917/3rdypresnarratives/3rdypresnarratives-byunit/18company22august1917 Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/838426/SAMUEL%20COLLIS%20HARDING/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 62-3. Sources used |
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UK National Archives http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/085fdde0ae154e8e8a73c77f020c2481 Sources used |
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Williams-Ellis, Clough en A. Williams-Ellis. The Tank Corps. Londen: Country Life, 1919. 93-4. Sources used |