Main CPGW Record
Surname: CAREY
Forename(s): Harold
Place of Birth: Gisburn, Yorkshire
Service No: 3889
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 'A' Coy 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 27
Date of Death: 1915-12-27
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: IV. H. 3.
CWGC Cemetery: TALANA FARM CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Harold Carey was the son of Alfred and Elizabeth Carey, née Moorby and brother of Corporal Alfred Carey (266463) (q.v.). Their father was born at Rownhams, Southampton, Hampshire and mother at Gisburn, Yorkshire.
1891 Gisburn, Yorkshire Census: Temperance Hotel - Harold Carey, aged 9 months, born Gisburn, son of Elizabeth Carey (married).
1901 Bowland Forest Low, Yorkshire Census: Butler's Cottage, Browsholme [Whitewell Parish], Harold Carey, aged 10 years, born Gisburn, Yorkshire, son of Alfred and Elizabeth Carey.
1911 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: North Street - Harold Carey, aged 20 years, born Gisburne, Yorkshire, son of Elizabeth Carey (married).
The British Army Service Record for Harold Carey exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Harold Carey, 6/3889, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 29.6.15. K. in A. 27.12.15.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Harold Carey, 6/3889, 1/6 W. Rid. R. K. in A. 27.12.15.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Harold Carey, 3889, 1/6 W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 27.12.15. In action. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother Sole Legatee - Elizabeth. £5 15s. 11d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: joint card(s) exist for Harold and Alfred. Name(s) on card(s): Dependant: Alfred Carey. Relationship to soldier: Father. Address 1. Copy Nook, Bolton by Bowland. Address 2. 20, King Street, Clitheroe.
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
CAREY, Harold, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, son of Mr. Alfred Carey, Copy Nook Hotel, [Bolton-by-Bowland], killed in action in France, Dec. 27, 1916.
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Private Harold CAREY
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
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Talana Farm Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Courtesy of Aurel Sercu, Boezinge, Belgium
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
14 January 1916
CAREY - Killed in action. December 27th in France. Pte. Harold Carey, 'A' Company, 6th Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of Mr. Alfred Carey, Copy Nook Hotel, Bolton-by-Bowland.
14 January 1916
BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND - PRIVATE HAROLD CAREY KILLED
Quite a gloom was cast over the village of Bolton by Bowland when the sad news was received from the War Office by Mr. Alfred Carey, of the Copy Nook Hotel, that his son, Harold, was killed instantaneously on December 27th whilst in the trenches in France. Deceased joined the 'A' Company, 6th Duke of Wellington's, twelve months ago, and has been at the Front since the middle of June. Private Carey is, as far as known at present, the first in this parish whose life has been sacrificed for his King and Country, and his father and mother have the sympathy of all who know them.
They have received several letters from the Front, one from Lieutenant Stocks, who says:- "On behalf of the Officers, N.C.O.'s and men I wish to express to you our deepest sympathy in your great loss. Since your son joined us out here he has always shown plenty of pluck and fearlessness, and we are all sorry to lose him."
Pte. F. Clarke writes:- "Just a few lines to tell you of the death of your son Harold. He was my best friend out here. I was with him in the dug-out at the time of his death. We were having a sleep when the dug-out was hit by a German shell, a piece of which hit Harold and he drifted right away. All the boys feel it as if he was our own brother. He was a good soldier, and was liked by all his mates. We had our Christmas dinner together, and he was talking about bringing me to dinner after the war."
Pte. J. F. Core also writes:- "Just a line to let you know how deeply I sympathise with you in the death of your son Harold. Being a mate of mine all the time he was in training and in active service, I thought it was as little as I could to write a few lines to you. He was killed by a shell which came through the dug-out when he was in it. He was killed instantly and was a good soldier, always doing his duty, and was always ready to do a good turn for anybody and I can only say how deeply we all regret to lose such a good pal."
At the Parish Church on Sunday morning hymns which had been special favourites of the dead soldier were sung, and the Rector (the Rev. C. C. Brodhurst) in preaching on the subject of Christ's miracle of changing water into wine continued:- "And then there is the change from life unto death. To some, that change cools gradually but to some it comes suddenly as to Harold Carey, who died on the 27th in his country's service. His passing has brought, or ought to have brought, the war very near to every inhabitant of Bolton; for though some months ago Arthur Bleazard was reported missing, yet we hope, may we not hope in vain, that he may still be alive, though a prisoner; but Harold Carey is the first on our Bolton list to have given his life in fighting for his country, but in this we feel that he died without pain. We must be more determined than ever to do all that is in our power to carry this war to a righteous conclusion."
After the services, the Prayer of Commendation in the Burial Service was read, and afterwards Mr. Lambert played the Dead March in 'Saul.'
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
14 January 1916
BOLTON-BY-BOWLAND SOLDIER KILLED
Quite a gloom was cast over the village of Bolton by Bowland when the sad news was received from the War Office by Mr. Alfred Carey, of the Copy Nook Hotel, that his son, Harold, was killed instantaneously on December 27th, whilst in the trenches in France. Deceased joined the 'A' Company, 6th Duke of Wellington's Regiment 12 months ago, and has been at the Front since the middle of June. Private Carey is, as far as known at present, the first in this parish whose life has been sacrificed for his King and Country, and his father and mother have the sympathy of all who know them. They have received several letters from the Front. One from Lieutenant Stocks says:- "On behalf of the Officers, N.C.O.'s and men, I wish to express to you my deepest sympathy in your great loss. Since your son joined us out here he has always shown plenty of pluck and fearlessness, and we are all sorry to lose him."
Pte. F. Clarke writes:- "Just a few lines to inform you of the death of your son Harold. He was my best friend out here. I was with him in a dug-out at the time of his death. We were having a sleep when the dug-out was hit by a German shell, a piece of which hit Harold and he died straight away. All the boys feel it as if he were their brother. He was a good soldier, and was liked by all his mates. We had our Christmas dinner, and he was talking about bringing me to dinner after the war."
Pte. J. E. Core also wrote:- "Just a line to let you know how deeply I sympathise with you in the death of your son Harold. Being a mate of mine all the time he was in training and on active service, I thought it was as little as I could to write a few lines to you. He was killed by a shell which came through the dug-out which he was in. He was killed instantly. He was a good soldier and always doing his duty, and was always ready to do a good turn for anybody, and I can only say how deeply we all regret to lose such a good pal."
At the Parish Church on Sunday morning, hymns which had been special favourites of the dead soldier were sung, and the Rector (the Rev. C. C. Brodhurst), in preaching on the subject of Christ's miracle, referred to Pte. Carey's death. He said Pte Carey's passing had brought, or ought to have brought, the war very near to every inhabitant of Bolton; for, though some months ago Arthur Bleazard was reported missing, yet they hoped that he might still be alive, even though a prisoner; but Harold Carey was the first on the Bolton list to have given his life while fighting at the Front. Let them be thankful that he died without pain.
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