My namesake, 40096 Harry Nixon of the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, was killed in action on the 5th January 1917. He was born in Longton, Staffordshire, was living in Hanley, Staffs, and enlisted at Stoke-on-Trent.
Harry had previously served with the North Staffordshire Regiment and sailed to France with them, arriving there on the 5th January 1915. His North Staffs army number - 7913 - suggests that he was either a regular soldier and still serving in the ranks, a recalled reservist (having enlisted in 1905 and now on the reserve) or a member of the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, having enlisted in 1911 or 1912. 7913 also falls within the range of numbers issued to men joining the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, but this number was allocated to another man in October 1913.
The 40096 South Staffordshire Regiment number looks to fall within a batch of numbers issued overseas but I do not currently have any idea when this number would have been issued.
Harry Nixon is buried in Beaumont-Hamel British Cemetery in France.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War
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