Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Harry Harlow, a shoe trade rivetter, born on the 26th December 1870 in Anstey, Leicestershire and baptised on the 21st August 1870 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey (son of John Harlow, 1840-1917 and Amy Richards, 1842-1924) and his wife Hannah Harlow (nee Johnson, married on the 24th December 1895 in the Church of St. Mary de Castro, Leicester), a boot trade machinist, born on the 24th February 1874 in Anstey (daughter of Henry Johnson, 1843-1902 and Phoebe Hallam Smith, 1847-1922). George Wilfred, was born on the 16th December 1896 in Anstey, he had one sibling, Richard, born on the 24th July 1898 in Anstey, in March 1901 the family home was at High Street, Anstey. In April 1911 Wilfred was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at High Street, Anstey, together with his father, a shoe trade rivetter, his mother and siblings, Richard, a schoolboy, Eveline, a schoolgirl, born on the 15th April 1901, Lena, a schoolgirl, born on the 5th November 1904, Ada, a schoolgirl, born on the 12th January 1906, Amy Elizabeth, born on the 24th February 1908 and Emily, born on the 28th June 1910, the latter five siblings were all born in Anstey.
FAMILY NOTE: George also had the following siblings, Constance, born on the 3rd July 1902, Olive, born on the 11th August 1911, John William, born on the 18th January 1913, Harry, born on the 24th December 1913 and Fred, born on the 18th August 1915, all the siblings were born in Anstey.
George enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 27th March 1916 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 24186.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 27th March 1916 and recorded his birthplace as [not recorded], declared age as 19 years 3 months, trade or occupation as shoe hand, that he was 5-feet 3½ inches in height, weighed 103 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 31 and 33½ inches, his physical development was described as fair, his vision was described as R.E.-V=6/8 L.E.-V=6/8. The following distinctive marks were noted, small scar between shoulders, small scar bottom of back. Enlisted at Leicester on the 27th March 1916. Joined on enlistment 12th Bn. Leicestershire Regt.
Due to the missing pages of his service record, the compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted. In Leicester. 27/3/16.
Joined. At Leicester. 27/3/16.
Posted. To 12th (Reserve) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 27/3/16.
Transferred. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte.
First entered the theatre of war in France. Date not known.
Wounded in action. In the Field. Date not known.
Died of wounds in the 36th Casualty Clearing Station. 26/9/16.
Buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt l’Abbe, Somme, France. Headstone inscription. “Peace perfect peace with loved one far away.”
Summary of Service.
Total Service. 184 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
On the 11th April 1917, George’s mother Hannah, of Albion Street, Anstey, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of eight shillings, commensurate on the 8th May 1917.
CWGC NOTES: The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London, but these hospitals had all moved on by early June 1917. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by the three medical units until April 1917. From March to May 1918, it was used by Australian units, and in the early autumn for further hospital burials when the 20th Casualty Clearing Station was there briefly in August and September 1918. The last burial was made in May 1919. There are now 2,890 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. Only 12 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 21 casualties whose graves in the cemetery could not be exactly located. The cemetery also contains 83 German graves. The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials. Some headstones carry as many as three sets of casualty details, and in these cases, regimental badges have had to be omitted. Instead, these badges, 117 in all, have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
On Tuesday September 26th, 1922, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – HARLOW. – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Pte. G. W. Harlow, who died of wounds Sept. 26th, 1916. Silent sorrow, everlasting love. – From Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters, Anstey.
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