Harold Arthur Winfield

Harold Arthur was the only son of Arthur Allen and Matilda Winfield (née Shaw). His father Arthur Allen was born in Mansfield in 1865, the son of Walter James Winfield, a grocer and his wife Ann. His mother Matilda Shaw was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1871. Arthur and Matilda were married at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene in August 1889 and had four children, all of whom were born in Mansfield and baptised at Mansfield St John the Evangelist: Kathleen b. 1890, Harold Arthur b. 12 May 1893 bap. 20 June 1893, Phyllis Ann b. 1895 and Winifred Clara b. 1897. In 1891 Arthur, a house furnisher, and Matilda were living on Wood Street, Mansfield, with their infant daughter Kathleen. Also in the household was a domestic servant. Arthur and Matilda were living at 42 West Gate when Harold and Phyllis were baptised but had moved to 18 St John's Street by 1901. In 1911 they were living at High Bank, West Hill Avenue, Mansfield: Harold was assisting his father in the business. His parents were still at the same address when the CWGC record was compiled. Harold's three sisters married after the war; Phyllis to Wilfred Sansom in 1919, Kathleen to Andrew Hotson in 1920 and Winifred to Leslie Faulkner, a farmer, in 1925. Kathleen's husband may have served in the Lancashire Fusiliers (65658). They were recorded on a passenger list sailing from Southampton on 11 December 1920 to Cape Town, South Africa, and as they have not yet been traced on UK records after this date may have emigrated. Harold's parents were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at Honington near Ancester, Lincolnshire, in the home of their married daughter, Phyllis Faulkner. Matilda died in Washingborough, Lincolnshire, on 11 March 1952 (reg. North Kestevan Lincolnshire); Arthur died the following day (reg. Mansfield). The probate records of both gave their address as King Edward Avenue, Mansfield.

Attended Brunt School, Mansfield. 1911 - assisting his father in his house furnishing business and in the same occupation when he attested in 1914.

'High Bank', West Hill Avenue, Mansfield. Enlisted Mansfield.

Machine Gun Corps formerly King's Royal Rifle Corps (1555) Harold Arthur Winfield enlisted on 9 September 1914 aged 21 years and 110 days. He was posted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps, joining at Winchester the following day and posted on 13 September 1914. He served in France with the KRRC from 3 January 1915 until 9 April 1915 when he was medically evacuated to England after being wounded. Herbert was treated at Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, and on being deemed fit for light duties was granted furlough from 19 May to 26 May 1915, the authorisation specifying his parents' address in Mansfield. Herbert rejoined his unit in France on 24 August 1915. However, on 1 July 1916 he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps to which he was transferred on 5 December 1916. In 1917 he had several spells in hospital in France: 30 January 1917 rejoining on 6 February then on 13 March 1917 discharged to Base Depot 1 April rejoining his unit on 9 July 1917. He had a further period in hospital (myalgia) from 24 August returning to duty on 31 August. Harold was killed by a shell whem his team was one of those holding the line at Epehy during the German Spring offensive in 1918. Initially reported missing '21/24 March', his death, accepted as occuring on 24 March, was not confirmed until January the following year. Harold's body was later recovered and he is buried in Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, France (grave ref. I. F. 6). He had served for 3 years 197 days: Home 9 September 1914-3 January 1915 (117days). BEF France 3 January 1915-9 April 1915 (96 days). Home 10 April 1915-23 August 1915 (136 days). BEF France 24 August 1915-23 March 1918 (2 years 213 days). Harold qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Epehy - the village of Epehy was captured by the British at the beginning of April 1917 but lost on 22 March 1918; it was retaken in September 1918. CWGC - History of Hem Farm Military Cemetery (extract): 'Hem-Monacu was captured by French troops in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and taken over by British troops later in the year. Hem Farm Military Cemetery was begun by British troops in January 1917, and used until the following March, and again in September 1918; and these graves now form part of Plot I, Rows E, F and G. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the addition of graves from the battlefields on both sides of the Somme and from the following smaller cemeteries [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Until the day breaks' Mansfield Reporter, 2 April 1915: ‘’Mustard and Cress.’ Just before going to Press, news, we regret to state, reached us that Harold Winfield, son of Mr Arthur Winfield, Leeming-street, is amongst the wounded.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, April 1915, photograph with caption: 'Has been wounded, a gunshot to thigh, in hospital in Liverpool.' Mansfield Reporter, 8 October 1915: ‘Corporal Nicholson, of Shirebrook, Killed. Shot in the Trenches. Corporal John (Jack) Nicholson, King’s Royal Rifles, was killed in action in the big engagement on the 25th ult., (sic) in France. He is one of four sons of Mrs Joseph Nicholson, of Shirebrook, and all are serving their country. A month ago he left England, and was in the trenches when he was shot in the head. The deceased is a grandson of Mrs Booth, of Mansfield Woodhouse, who has eight grandsons serving. He was educated at Malbtby’s School, and was apprenticed to Messrs, Hameyer and Co., ironmongers. His two comrades who wee in the trenches along with him,, Harold Winfield, son of Mr Arthur Winfield, Leeming-street, and Sims, of Pleasley Hill, sent the sad information.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: R/75774 Corporal John Nicholson KRRC (See record on this Roll of Honour) Mansfield Reporter, 17 May 1918: ‘The Roll of Honour. Missing. MGC. L/Corpl H Winfield 71200.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.oo.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 31 January 1919: ‘News of Lace-Corporal Harold Winfield. Killed By A Shell. Lance-Corporal Harold Winfield, son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Winfield, Mansfield, who has been missing for a long time, is now reported dead. Corporal A Rayson, who is at present in Brooke Street Hospital, Carlisle, states: ‘They were holding the line at Epehy. It was daylight, but foggy, and the Germans were shelling them heavily. Winfield was with the next machine gun, about 400 yards away. One of his men ran across to my information post and said Winfield had been instantly killed by a shell two hours earlier. Both teams were immediately driven back, and ground was left to the Germans. Winfield was lying there.’ These facts were contained in a letter received from the British Red Cross. Rayson has also written direct to the family, stating that a shell knocked the gun team out. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Winfield in their bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’, 31 January 1919: ‘Mansfield. Killed in action, in France, March 24th, 1918, Lance-Corporal Harold A Winfield, MGC., the beloved only son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Winfield, West Hill Avenue.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father Arthur Allen Winfield was his legatee.