Seven hundred and twenty men lost their lives on this day - 29th August - in 1918. Without wishing to diminish the sacrifices made by today's generation in Afghanistan and Iraq, these Great War losses - which were unrelenting - seem almost incomprehensible. I wonder how today's British media would deal with a British army casualty list of 720 men on one day. Thankfully, it's unlikely we'll ever find out.
41419 Private Harry Gelderd of the 2/5th King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment was one of the 720 casualties on 29th August 1918. He was killed in action on this day and is buried in the HAC Cemetery at Ecoust St Main. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives detailed information about this cemetery. Click on the link to read more.
Soldiers Died in The Great War notes that Harry was born in Leeds and enlisted in Leeds. His medal index card shows entitlement to the British War & Victory Medals only and his number indicates a joining date of some time in 1917. There is only one Harry Gelderd on the 1901 census and that is the 18 month old boy living at 3 Spring Close Street in South East Leeds with his parents - James (25) and Edith (23) - and his young sister Florence, aged three. So it seems likely that Harry was born in late 1899 and was therefore called up on or shortly after his 18th birthday. He probably hadn't been in France very long before he became a casualty - another name on a list that was 720 names long.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
Sources:
Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, 1901 census)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Photo from the website dedicated to Nelson, Glamorgan during WW1
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