No.18564, Private, Henry Daniel HARLING
Aged 19
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Henry Daniel Harling was born on January 2nd 1897 in Burwell (Newmarket Q1-1897 3B:535), baptised in Burwell on 12th April 1897, son of Edgar Simon and
Harriet HARLING (née CORNWELL).
1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Back Lane, Burwell with his father Edgar S HARLING [30] bricklayer, born Leiston; his mother Harriet [28] born Burwell; brother George [5] and sister Harriet A [1] both born in Burwell; grandmother Catherine CORWELL [66] born Carlton. 1911 census...Aged 14, a grocer's shop assistant, he was at Ness Road, Burwell with his parents,brother George (bricklayer's labourer) sister Amelia {Harriet A.], brother William [6]and sister Florrie [4] both born in Burwell. |
| Enlisted in London.
The war diary for the 9th Essex on July 3rd 1916 reads:- "3 July 1916 - 2.15am all was reported ready. Zero Hour was altered to 3.07 am about midnight. A heavy bombardment of Ovillers by our artillery was carried out during the afternoon and night preceding the attack. The enemy's retaliation was insignificant up till midnight when his bombardment increased and became heavy about 3am, especially on the communication trenches to the front and support lines. 3.07am. The leading waves of the Berkshires and Suffolks left our line. 3.20am. The 1st lines of the battalion followed in pursuit. The Berkshires and Suffolks went over the German's front and support lines and some troops entered the village objective with the leading lines of the battalion which had come up in support. The battalion suffered severely during the advance across the open from machine gun fire from either flank and from the village. The troops were unable to hold their ground and were driven out by bombing suffering very heavily in getting back. The last line of the battalion was checked in front of the strong point on a terrace and overlooking the German front line across the road leading into the village. 4.30pm. The attack on Ovillers came to a standstill about 4.30pm and the remainder of the 3 battalions withdrew inside our lines. The Norfolks took over the front line and the battalion was withdrawn into Ribble Street. Whilst the attack was going on against Ovillers, 'C' Company, which should have advanced on the left of 'B' Company, losing direction from when they got out of our lines, advanced in a south east direction; struck the German line north west of La Boiselle and carried the enemy front and support trenches and went right through the village joining up with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Gloucesters of the 19th Division who were attacking Boiselle from the south west. 'C' Company were withdrawn by orders of the 19th Division about 2pm when all except the north east corner of the village had been captured. The 37th Brigade who attacked in conjunction on the left of the 35th Brigade fared equally badly and were unable to maintain a footing in the enemy lines north of Ovillers. Casualties were 12 officers and 386 other ranks wounded, missing and killed." CWGC has the dead of the 9th Essex as 109, all ranks. Only 27 have identified graves. |
Remembered on his sister's headstone in Burwell
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