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Harry Sparrow
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 01/03/1898 |
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Place of birth: Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 8 Prescot Road, Fairfield, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 331142 |
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Enlistment date: 25/01/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's (Liverpool Regiment), 1/9th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Gallipoli - Almenhof, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 33 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Harry Sparrow, a former student, was born on 1 March 1898 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He was the son of Thomas and Clara Ward. On 25 January 1915, aged 17, he enlisted in Liverpool, Lancashire. After his training in Blackpool, Harry served as a private in 13 Platoon, "D" Company, 1/9th Bn. King's (Liverpool Regiment), part of the 165th (Liverpool) Brigade, of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division. Shortly before the Battle of Passchendaele, he became a stretcher bearer.
On the morning of 20 September 1917, the 55th Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road. The Division attacked with the 164th Brigade on the left and the 165th Brigade on the right. The 165th Brigade attacked with the 1/7th and 1/9th Bn. King's (Liverpool Regiment). They were ordered to capture the first objective, a line that ran across Gallipoli and Iberian strongholds. The 1/5th and 1/6th and Bn. King's (Liverpool Regiment) were to capture the second objective, a line running from Keir Farm across Hill 37 to Waterend House.
At 5.40am, the attack began. The attackers on the left were stopped by strongholds at Iberian, Lens and Gallipoli. By 8am, these were all taken. They were again held up by opposition at Hill 35 and strongholds on the east side of the hill. These were only cleared by 2pm. At about the same time, the Germans counterattacked, but this attack was stopped by British artillery. By the end of the day the second objective was captured. On the night of 22-23 September, the battalion was withdrawn from the line; the relief was completed around 2.20am.
Harry Sparrow, aged 19, was killed in action on 20 September 1917. His parents sent him worried letters after receiving no reply after 20 September. These letters were returned to the sender. On 18 October, they received the official news that Harry was missing in action. Later that month, his mother wrote to the British Red Cross to get more information about her son's whereabouts. The Red Cross responded twice, after interviewing eyewitnesses. A first reply came on 4 February 1918. The letter contained an interview with Private Joseph McGrath (332870). He stated the following: "I saw Sparrow wounded in the leg whilst he was carrying a “case” (he was a stretcher-bearer) about a 100 yards in fort of the Pill Boxes at about 2 p.m. on the 20th September. He fell into a shell hole and I never saw or heard of him again. […]" Another answer came on 9 May 1918, an interview with Corporal John Pickering Westwood (332779). He stated the following: "Private Sparrow was a stretcher-bearer in my platoon. Stretcher-Bearer W. Gardner, “D“ Company, who is still with the Battalion, saw him wounded in the leg when he was helping to carry a man out. This was during the attack at Gallipoli Farm (Ypers) on September 20th. I have heard Gardner speak of this but I do not think he knows what eventually happened to Sparrow. He could not have been taken prisoner for we took and held our objective that day." Harry was officially declared killed in action on 17 July 1918. Private Sparrow has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 33 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the morning of 20 September 1917, the 55th Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road. The Division attacked with the 164th Brigade on the left and the 165th Brigade on the right. The 165th Brigade attacked with the 1/7th and 1/9th Bn. King's (Liverpool Regiment). They were ordered to capture the first objective, a line that ran across Gallipoli and Iberian strongholds. The 1/5th and 1/6th and Bn. King's (Liverpool Regiment) were to capture the second objective, a line running from Keir Farm across Hill 37 to Waterend House.
At 5.40am, the attack began. The attackers on the left were stopped by strongholds at Iberian, Lens and Gallipoli. By 8am, these were all taken. They were again held up by opposition at Hill 35 and strongholds on the east side of the hill. These were only cleared by 2pm. At about the same time, the Germans counterattacked, but this attack was stopped by British artillery. By the end of the day the second objective was captured. On the night of 22-23 September, the battalion was withdrawn from the line; the relief was completed around 2.20am.
Harry Sparrow, aged 19, was killed in action on 20 September 1917. His parents sent him worried letters after receiving no reply after 20 September. These letters were returned to the sender. On 18 October, they received the official news that Harry was missing in action. Later that month, his mother wrote to the British Red Cross to get more information about her son's whereabouts. The Red Cross responded twice, after interviewing eyewitnesses. A first reply came on 4 February 1918. The letter contained an interview with Private Joseph McGrath (332870). He stated the following: "I saw Sparrow wounded in the leg whilst he was carrying a “case” (he was a stretcher-bearer) about a 100 yards in fort of the Pill Boxes at about 2 p.m. on the 20th September. He fell into a shell hole and I never saw or heard of him again. […]" Another answer came on 9 May 1918, an interview with Corporal John Pickering Westwood (332779). He stated the following: "Private Sparrow was a stretcher-bearer in my platoon. Stretcher-Bearer W. Gardner, “D“ Company, who is still with the Battalion, saw him wounded in the leg when he was helping to carry a man out. This was during the attack at Gallipoli Farm (Ypers) on September 20th. I have heard Gardner speak of this but I do not think he knows what eventually happened to Sparrow. He could not have been taken prisoner for we took and held our objective that day." Harry was officially declared killed in action on 17 July 1918. Private Sparrow has no known grave and is commemorated on panel 33 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 5
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1/9 King's Liverpool Regiment (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2925/4). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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165 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2927/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy Chris, Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018), 84-85. Sources used |
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Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, MZ 13792 - MZ 13804. Sources used |
More information 3
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7f6c29bf-6505-41cd-b4b2-d087271f545c |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3065792 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4196735 |