Harold Pendleton

Harold was the son of William Beastale and Elizabeth Pendleton (née Linacre). His father William was born in Tibshelf, Derbyshire, and his mother Elizabeth Linacre in Danesmoor Derbyshire. They were married at Morton Holy Cross, Derbyshire, in 1889 (reg. J/F/M). According to the information on the 1911 Census, they had had eight children, two of whom had died. However, only five children were recorded on the census between 1891 and 1911: John William b. Derby 1893 (A/M/J), Harold b. Derby 1895 (O/N/D), Edward b. Derby reg. 1898 (J/F/M), Sarah b. Derby 1900 and Jeanetta b. Huthwaite 1908. William, a joiner, and Elizabeth were living on Uttoxeter Old Road, Derby, in 1891. They had already had one child, George Wilfred, who was born in 1889, baptised at Morton Holy Cross the same year but had died in September the following year. In 1901 they were living on Castle Street, Derby, with their four children John (8), Harold (5), Edward (3) and Sarah (5 months). The family had moved to Huthwaite by 1911 and were living in Shoulder of Mutton Yard. William was a joiner for JW Richards Builder & Contractor. In the home with their parents on the night of the census were John and Harold who were both colliery pony drivers, Edward a colliery banksman, Sarah and Jeanetta (2). Harold was living in Huthwaite when he attested in 1915. However, his army record includes a memorandum dated April 1918 that his personal property should be returned to his mother c/o Nethermoor, Tibshelf, Derbyshire. The WW1 Pension Ledgers also gave his mother's address as Tibshelf. His father died in September 1934 (reg. Mansfield) and was buried in Tibshelf (churchyard); the burial record gave his address as Richards Yard. Elizabeth died in 1947 (reg. J/F/M Chesterfield) and was probably still living in Tibshelf. Harold's brother John William served in the Army Service Corps in France and Salonika and died at sea in June 1917. Their brother Edward, a coal miner, attested in the Royal Artillery in Chesterfield on 22 July 1919 aged 21 years 6 months (1042217) and re-engaged in 1925 to complete 21 years. The record also gave a former RA service number (246600) which suggests that he had served during the war and re-enlisted after being demobilized.

Colliery pony driver in 1911 and employed as a coal miner when he attested in 1915.

Resident Huthwaite, enlisted Sutton in Ashfield.

16th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Harold attested on 26 May 1915, giving his age as 19 years 240 days, occupation coal miner. He was posted on 26 May and his army service record lists the following training camps: Buxton 26 May 1915-3 June 1915; Redmires 9 June 1915-2 September 1915; Hursley Park 2 September 1915-30 September 1915; Aldershot 30 September 1915-8 November 1915; Witley Camp 8 November 1915 (no end date). He embarked at Southampton on 6 June 1916 for France. However, on 2 November that year he was admitted to a casualty clearing station suffering from arthritis. He was transferred to No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, on 4 November, and then to England on 8 November (Hospital Ship St Denis) where he was admitted to the County of London War Hospital, Epsom, the following day. He was discharged from hospital on 22 November. Harold rejoined the battalion in France, probably in 1916. He was promoted unpaid lance corporal on 23 August 1917. Harold's record includes a note of two casualty reports, one dated 30 October that Harold had been wounded and a second dated 5 November 1917 that he had died of wounds. The date of death for official purposes was 23 October 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 99 to 102). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Harold's brother John William served with the Army Service Corps (Driver T4/062258) and was drowned on 2 June 1917 when HMT Cameronian was sunk by German submarine. (See record on this Roll of Honour) He was born O/N/D/1895 so may have been 22 when killed. Mansfield Reporter, 19 April 1918 (extract): ‘Memorial Service. At Huthwaite Parish Church a memorialservice was held on Sunday morning to eight Huthwaite men, who have met with their deaths in France or died of wounds, their names being: Adams C. Evans, Evans T. Newman, Pendleton, Godber, Hardy and Riley. There was a large congregation, including the members of the Parish Church Bible Class, to which Newman belonged. St George’s flag was at half-mast on the church tower, and the ‘Roll of Honour’ was surrounded by a laurel wreath. The Rev. FN Beswick officiated.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 10 January 1919: ‘Huthwaite’s Sacrifice. The following is a complete list (as far as can be at present ascertained, of the Huthwaite men or Huthwaite natives who have died of wounds of been killed in the war. The names are not all in the order in which the casualties occurred … Harry Pendleton.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.oc.uk)