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.
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