Harold Leivers

Harold Leivers was born in 1892 in Arnold and was the son of Thomas a hosiery cotton hand and Betsy Leivers née Williamson of 127 St Albans Road, Arnold. His father Thomas was born in 1872 at Arnold, his mother Betsy Williamson was born in 1870 at Arnold, they were married in 1890 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district, they went on to have 10 children, sadly one died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, Harold b1892, Bernard b1895, Thomas Hilton b1897, Hedley b1899, Arthur b1901, Elsie b1902, May b1905, Clarice b1908, Ernest b1909 and Florence b1911 all were born in Arnold. In the 1911 Census the family are living at Burford Cottages St Albans Road, Arnold, and are shown as Thomas 39 yrs a hosiery cotton hand, he is living with his wife Betsy 41 yrs and their children, Harold 19 yrs he is single and his occupation is that of a miners driver, Bernard 16 yrs a miners driver, Thomas Hilton 14 yrs a lace dipper, Hedley 12 yrs a scholar, Arthur 10 yrs a scholar, Elsie 9 yrs of age, May 6 yrs, Clarice 3 yrs, Ernest 2 years and Florence 1 month old.

He was employed in the lace industry by Allen Solly's on Brookfield Road.

Private Harold Leivers enlisted into the Army he was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers, moving over to France in July 1915. On Friday the 7th July 1916, the battalion were to the south of the village of Contalmaison and at 2am after a bombardment by the British artillery, they advanced towards two German held trenches situated to the east of Contalmaison village. However, they were held up in this advance by their own artillery fire which was falling short. Having finally got past this point they discovered that the wire had not, as was expected, been cut by the artillery fire. They had no option but to retire and await a better result from the artillery before attacking once more. The second attack met with no more success than the first and they withdrew it was during this action that Harold was killed. His name is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial on the Somme