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Fred HARDING

Main CPGW Record

Surname: HARDING

Forename(s): Fred

Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire

Service No: 424873

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Canadian Mounted Rifles

Battalion / Unit: 'D' Coy 1st Battalion

Division: 3rd Canadian Division

Age: 24

Date of Death: 1917-04-09

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: III. G. 11.

CWGC Cemetery: NINE ELMS MILITARY CEMETERY, THELUS

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Fred Harding (born 10 April 1894) was the son of Frederick John Addlesee and Elizabeth Ann Harding, née Mouncey and brother of Sergeant Claude Harding (265395) (q.v.). Their father was born at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and mother at Skipton, Yorkshire.

1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 30, Albert Street - Fred Harding, aged 7 years, born Skipton, son of Fred J.A. and Elizabeth A. Harding.

1911 Keighley, Yorkshire Census: 101, Bradford Street - Fred Harding, aged 17 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, son of Fred and [stepson of] Ada Harding. [Fred, senior, had married Ada Cameron, a widow, in 1910.]

The 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles were dismounted cavalry. They fought as infantry, initially with the 1st Canadian Mounted Brigade. In December 1915 they joined the 8th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division as the 1st Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles.

Canadian service records: http://www.baclac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/first-world-war-1914-1918-cef

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

HARDING, Fred, aged 24, Canadian Mounted Rifles Midland Street, Skipton, killed in action, France, April 9, 1917.

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Private Fred HARDING

Private Fred HARDING

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Mounted Rifles

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Canadian Mounted Rifles

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 3rd Canadian Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 3rd Canadian Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: No entry in SDGW - Canadian Forces.

Forename(s):

Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

Number:

Rank:

Regiment:

Battalion:

Decorations:

Died Date:

Died How:

Theatre of War:

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: HARDING

Forename(s): Fred

Country of Service: Canadian

Service Number: 424873

Rank: Private

Regiment: "D" Coy. 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion

Unit:

Age: 24

Awards:

Died Date: Died between 07/04/1917 and 10/04/1917

Additional Information: Son of Fred and Elizabeth Ann Harding, formerly of Skipton, Yorks, England. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN)

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Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

Memorial Chamber of Canada’s Parliament Buildings, Ottawa

In the Memorial Chamber are the eight ‘Books of Remembrance’ that contain the names of more than 120,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the service of Canada

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)

Page from the First World War ‘Book of Remembrance’: Private Fred Harding

Page from the First World War ‘Book of Remembrance’: Private Fred Harding

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial (Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman, Clitheroe)

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

13 October 1916

SKIPTON ‘CANADIAN’ LOSES A LEG

Pte. W. S. Harding, of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, whose sister, Miss Emily Harding, lives in Midland Street, Skipton, was seriously wounded during the fierce fighting in September, and has since had his left leg amputated in a Glasgow hospital, where he is now reported to be doing nicely. He was also wounded in the left shoulder. Nineteen years of age, he was formerly errand boy for Messrs. Lipton’s Ltd., Skipton, but about four years ago emigrated to Canada, where he obtained a good position on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Two of his brothers are also serving in the Army – Pte. Fred Harding with the Canadian Mounted Rifles, and Corporal Claude Harding with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. Pte. Fred Harding had also been out in Canada prior to the war, and was engaged on farm work. An uncle of the three brothers, Pte. Fred Mounsey, of Skipton, is also serving with the Bradford ‘Pals’

24 April 1917

HARDING – April 9th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Pte. Fred Harding, of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, and formerly employed at Belle Vue Mills, Skipton, aged 24 years.

24 April 1917

TWO SKIPTON 'CANADIANS' – PRIVATE FRED HARDING

Private Fred Harding, whose grandmother and sister live in Midland Street, Broughton Road, is another Skiptonian who has been killed. Twenty-four years of age, he was at one time employed in the spinning department at Belle Vue Mills, Skipton, and afterwards worked for a short time in a mechanic’s shop at Keighley. Some five or six years ago, however, he emigrated along with his brother, William Snowden Harding, to Canada where he took up farming. Soon after the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Rifles, and he had been in France about twelve months, where he was serving with the Lewis Gun Machine Gun Section of his Regiment. The following letter, signed by a pal named Pte. K.C. Wiseman, has been received by Mrs. Mounsey, deceased’s grandmother:– “I had the very sad duty entrusted to me by my pal, Fred Harding, just before he went into action on Monday last, April 9th, of letting his people know if anything should happen to him, and I am very sorry to say that he was killed in action that morning whilst charging with the ‘D’ Company of the Lewis gunners of the Canadian Mounted Rifles towards the German trenches. You may rest assured he died bravely. How he was actually killed I am unable to say, as I have not been able to find anyone who saw him hit. Poor Fred was No. 3 on the gun, and I have today been in conversation with No. 1 (Corporal Watkins), who says that after starting over the top he lost sight of him. The No. 2, I understand, was wounded, so I cannot glean anything more definite from any of them. This is all very sad and I am indeed very sorry for you. Fred was one of the best – a very great friend of mine, one whom I shall never forget. He had many friends and was always cheerful and was liked by everyone.”

Pte. William Snowden Harding, deceased’s brother, was seriously wounded during the fierce fighting on the Western Front in September last, and had to have his left leg amputated. He also enlisted in Canada – in the same Regiment as his brother – and he has recently had to report himself at a hospital in Ramsgate. Another brother, Lance-Sergeant Claude Harding, has been at the Front with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment since April 1915, while an uncle of the three brothers, Pte. Fred Mounsey, of Skipton, is also serving with the Bradford ‘Pals’.

09 November 1917

MILITARY MEDALS FOR TWO SKIPTONIANS – SERGEANT CLAUDE HARDING

Sergeant Claude Harding, who has been serving with the Skipton Territorials since they were mobilised, and whose grandmother lives in Midland Street, Broughton Road, Skipton, has been awarded the Military Medal, but no details of the deed, which earned him the honour, are yet to hand.

He is 23 years of age, and prior to the war was in the employ of a Keighley engineering firm. His brother, Pte. Fred Harding, Canadian Mounted Rifles, was killed on April 9th, and another brother, Pte. William Snowden Harding, also of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, was seriously wounded in September last year and had to have his left leg amputated.

11 April 1919

HARDING – In loving memory of our dear brothers, Private Fred Harding, 1st C.M.R., 45th Battalion, killed in action April 9th, 1917; also Sergeant Claude Harding, M.M., 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s, killed in action April 12th, 1918.

“Days of remembrance sad to recall.”

From Emily, Ada, Albert, and Billie in Canada, 12 Midland Street, Skipton.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

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13 October 1916

SKIPTON SOLDIER WOUNDED

Pte. W. S. Harding, of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, whose sister resides in Midland Street, Skipton, has been wounded in the left shoulder and leg, the latter limb having been amputated. He was wounded in the big push on Sept. 15th, and is at present in hospital at Glasgow, where he is said to be progressing favourably. Prior to going to Canada four years ago, he was employed at the Skipton branch of Messrs. Lipton’s Ltd. He has also two other brothers serving – Pte. Fred Harding, in the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, and Corporal Claude Harding, in the 1st 6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

27 April 1917

HARDING – Killed in action in France, Pte. Fred Harding, of the Lewis Machine Gun Section, Canadian Mounted Rifles, and of Midland Street, Skipton, aged 24.

27 April 1917

SKIPTON SOLDIERS KILLED

We regret to learn that Pte. Fred Harding, of the Lewis Machine Gun Section, Canadian Mounted Rifles, whose family reside in Midland Street. Broughton Road, Skipton, has been killed in action in France. Pte. Harding, who was 24 years of age, went out to Canada five or six years ago to take up farming. He enlisted on the outbreak of war and had been out in France about a year. Prior to going to Canada he was employed in the spinning department at Belle Vue Mills, and later as a mechanic at Keighley.

In a letter to his grandmother, Mrs. Mounsey, of 12, Midland Street, Skipton, Pte. Kenneth C. Wiseman writes:– “I had the very sad duty entrusted to me by my old ‘pal’ Fred Harding just before he went into action on Monday, April 9th, of letting his people know if anything should happen to him. I am very sorry to say that he was killed in action that morning whilst charging with the D Lewis Company of the Canadian Mounted Rifles towards the German trenches. You may rest assured he died bravely. How he was actually killed I am unable to say, as I have not been able to find anyone who saw him hit. Poor Fred was No. 3 on the gun, and I have to-day been in conversation with No. 1 (Corp. Watkins) who says that after starting over the top he lost sight of him. The No. 2, was, I understand, wounded, so I cannot get anything more definite from them. This is all very sad, and I am indeed very sorry for you. Fred was one of the best – a very great friend of mine, who I shall never forget. He had many friends, and was liked by everyone and always cheerful.”

Another brother, Pte. William Snowden Harding, of the same regiment, was also out in Canada when war broke out, and he joined along with his brother. He was wounded last July in the big push, and it was found necessary to amputate one of his legs. He was also wounded in the back at the same time. He has recently been over to Skipton on leave, but has returned to hospital at Ramsgate.

There is still a third brother, Lance Sergt. Claude Harding, who is attached to the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and has been out in France two years

09 November 1917

THREE SKIPTON MILITARY MEDALLISTS

Sergeant Claude Harding of the West Riding Regiment, of 5, Bradley Street, Skipton, has been awarded the Military Medal. He is 23 years of age, and one of three brothers who answered the call on the outbreak of war. He was mobilised with the local Territorial Regiment, and has served at the front since. April, 1915. Prior to enlisting he was employed by a firm of engineers at Keighley. His brothers, Private Fred Harding, and Private Willie Harding, served with the Canadian Forces. The former was killed in April last, and the latter was so severely wounded that he had to have a leg amputated. He has now returned Canada.

26 April 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Skipton Sergeant Killed

Sergeant Claude Harding, of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and of 5, Bradley Street, Skipton, was killed in action by a shell on April 12th, whilst the enemy was preparing for an attack. Sergeant Harding, who was 23 years of age, was one of three brothers who answered the call on the outbreak of war. He was mobilised with the local Territorial Regiment, and had served at the front since April, 1915. In December last he was awarded the, Military Medal foe gallantry in the field. Prior to enlisting he was employed by a firm of engineers at Keighley. His brothers, Pte. Fred Harding, and Pte. Willie Harding, served with the Canadian Forces. The former was killed in April, 1917, and the latter was so severely wounded that he had to have a leg amputated. He has now returned to Canada. Capt. B. Godfrey Buxton, in a letter to Sergt. Harding’s relatives, states:– “After his three years of unbroken service out here it is sad to lose one who has proved himself such a brave soldier and a good friend. Everyone was fond of Claude, and in the line he was always as brave as could be from the early days in 1915 at Ypres until this time. All ‘D’ Company wish to send their deepest sympathy to you in your loss.”

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