Private 42857, 22nd Bn, Durham Light Infantry
Died 14th November 1916, aged 35
Remembered at Guard’s Cemetery, Lesboeufs
& the Memorial New Road, Blakeney
Harry Daniel was baptised Giles Harry Daniel,24th November 1880 in Blakeney Church but was always known by his middle name. He is on the War Memorial as H. Daniel. Harry was the son of Giles Daniel (1851-1928) and Martha Ann Dew (1854-1932) who were married in Blakeney, 1876. Giles and Martha had nine children, although two had died by 1911. The first three, Ada, Giles, and Giles Harry were born in Blakeney while five more were born in South Shields. By 1915, Giles and Martha were back living in Westgate Street, Blakeney.
In 1911, the Census has Harry living in Northumberland, where he was a “Labourer on Farm, age 30”. However, shortly afterwards, he is back in Blakeney where he features on a list of employees who were presenting a gift to Mr and Mrs Hudson of Manor Farm as they retired.
Harry enlisted at Felling, Co. Durham, 1915, giving his address as Pike’s Hole Farm, West Boldon Colliery and occupation as Ploughman. To begin with, he was an Army Reservist and was not mobilised until the following March. In early September, 1916, he was posted to France and transferred two weeks later, to the 22nd Reserve Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, 3rd County Pioneers. This Battalion was part of the 8th Division serving under General Sir Henry Rawlinson. Their role at the Somme was to provide support and labour, assisting the Royal Engineer field companies, often digging tunnels and repairing trenches. Harry is recorded as “Killed in Action, in the Field”, 4 days before the end of the Battle of the Somme.
His remains were exhumed in 1920 for “proper burial” at Guards Cemetery, Lesboeufs, 9 miles NE of Albert, scene of the first Battle of the Somme. His father was informed that “the new grave has been duly marked with a cross bearing all the late soldier’s particulars. The removal was undertaken with every measure of care and reverence, and the re-internment conducted by an Army Chaplain”.
H. Daniel was a later addition to the casualties listed on the War Memorial in New Road, Blakeney and his name follows H. Wright at the bottom of the list. He has been misidentified as Reginald M. Daniel, his first cousin, by the Norfolk Roll of Honour.