5046 Lance-Sergeant Harold Edward Pitt of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, died of wounds on the 2nd February 1915. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the additional information that he was the "son of Francis John Pitt and Lilian Mary Ann Pitt (nee Turner), and the husband of Ellice Bertha Pitt of 131 Oldknow Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. Born in Erdington, Warwickshire."
Harold - or Hal as he was known to his family - was a regular soldier who had been in France and Belgium since the 12th August 1914. His Coldstream Guards number dates to around March 1903 and when war was declared he was a reservist and serving as a police constable in the Birmingham City Police. Hal was severely wounded on the 1st February 1915 when throwing grenades out of his trench at Cuinchy and it was one of these which exploded, mortally wounding him. He was Mentioned In Dispatches on the 18th June 1915 in The London Gazette.
Harold Pitt is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery in France and is remembered with affection and admiration by his family (see comments).
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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3 comments:
Thank you for remembering my Great Uncle "HAL" Harold Edward Pitt who died 95 years ago today aged 30 years. Hal was my paternal grandmothers brother. He was a reservist and serving as a police constable in the Birmingham City Police when he was called up in August 1914. I have fully researched him and am just missing his 1914 Star !! If anyone out there knows where it is I would be more tha grateful !. Hal was severely wounded on 1/2/1915 when throwing grenades out of his trench at Cuinchy. (I have visited his grave at Lillers on several occasions). Unfortunately one exploded mortally wounding him. He was Mentioned In Despatches on 18/6/1915 in London Gazette. He is remembered by all our family, especially today !! God Bless Him!
Paul,
This is a great site and I feel honoured that you have selected my great uncle for remembrance today.
Tony Schuck,
Lichfield
I'm very pleased to be able to commemorate him in this small way, Tony; and thanks for the additional information which I'll incorporate into the post above.
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