Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert William T. Blackham a builder, born in the 4th quarter of 1867 in Birmingham, Warwickshire and his wife Nellie Blackham, born 14th October 1868 in Aston, Warwickshire. Harold Groves Blackham was born in the 4th quarter of 1893 in Smethwick, Staffordshire, his siblings were Ethel, born 5th October 1892 in Smethwick and Dorothy, born 10th December 1894 in Birmingham, also residing in the family home was his maternal Grandfather, John Groves, born 1839 in Birmingham and his wife Anne F. Groves, born 1842 in Small Heath, Worcestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 332, Rotton Park Road, Birmingham. In April 1911 Harold was employed as a political agent’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 5, Church Street, Staveley, Derbyshire, together with his father a political agent, his mother and siblings, Ethel, a student teacher and Dorothy.
Post 1911, Harold’s father had adopted the name of Albert Purslow Blackham, his mother’s maiden was Purslow, and he was engaged as the Conservative agent for South East Derbyshire. Harold was residing as a boarder in Hugglescote, Leicestershire and worshipped at St. John the Baptist Church. He was employed as a clerk for Mr. W. Baldwin, the Conservative agent for the Bosworth Division of Leicestershire. At the outbreak of war he enlisted into the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, and after training embarked on foreign service.
Harold’s enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 18th September 1914 in Coalville, and was allotted the service number 2553. He gave his place of birth as Smethwick, Staffordshire and age as 20 years 11 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as clerk.
His medical examination took place in Coalville on the 18th September 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 20 years 330 days, that he was 5 feet 7 inches in height, weighed 142 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Albert Purslow Blackham, mother, Nellie Blackham, sister, Ethyl Blackham, sister, Dorothy Blackham, all of Church View, Staveley, Chesterfield.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. At Coalville. 18/9/14.
Posted. 5th Reserve Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 18/9/14.
Embodied service commenced. 18/9/14.
Embarked. With 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 26/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre, France. 27/2/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 4/6/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 18/9/14 – 27/2/15. 163 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 28/2/15 – 4/6/15. 97 days.
Total Service. 260 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 4 Jun-15 - KEMMEL. At 10.00pm 2 Platoons of the 7th Battalion THE RIFLE BRIGADE occupied 94A replacing 1 platoon “C” Company.
An account relating to the events of the 4th June 1915 states the following: - “The Battalion was in the Messines Sector of Belgium with the headquarters in nearby Kemmel. Colonel Jones had found a new home for himself in the village – a small shop in a lesser street. He had been there for less than twenty-four hours, when at mid-day, the Germans started to bombard the area with their deadly 5.9-inch shells. The Colonel was in discussion with Colonel Jessop of the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, just outside the house, with two orderlies Robert Bacchus (1441) a pre-war Territorial from Rempstone, and Harold Blackham (2553) holding two horses close by. The very first shell that came over exploded amongst them. Colonel Jones was injured in the hand, neck and thigh, whilst the other three men were killed, so too the horses.”
On Friday June 11th 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – It was reported at Coalville, on Thursday, that Private Clifford Scott, serving with the 5th Leicestershire Territorial’s, had written to his father, Mr. Scott, L. and N.W. Railway stationmaster, Coalville East, that Private H. G. Blackham, of the same battalion, had been killed in action. Blackham was one of 50 recruits selected from the first company of Territorial’s formed in Coalville to be sent to the 5th battalion, and left in October. He was employed as a clerk in the Bosworth Division Conservative Association’s offices in Hotel-street, Coalville, under Mr. Wm. Baldwin, the Conservative agent, and was the only son of Mr. Blackham, Unionist agent of North-East Derbyshire, living at Staveley, near Chesterfield.
On Friday July 2nd 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment were announced by the official Press Bureau on Monday for publication:- Reported June 12th. KILLED. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Bacchus, 1441, Private R. Baum, 2278, Private A. J. Blackham, 2553, Private H.G. WOUNDED. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Ayres, 1750, Pte. F. G. Gilbert, 726, Lance Corpl. H. Price, 1766, Pte. F. Smith, 1256, Lance Corpl. W. Woodcock, 1647, Pte. M.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Article from Coalville times 25/06/1915:

Coalville Soldier Killed - Clerk from the Conservative Office

The Conservative Agent for the Bosworth Division, Mr W. Baldwin, has received information that his late clerk, Pte. Harold G. Blackham has been killed in action. Soon after the outbreak of war, Blackham enlisted in the 5th Battalion Leicestershire Territorials, and was one of the first 50 to leave Coalville. It is understood that he was killed in a village behind the firing line by the same shell that wounded Col. Jones and killed one or two others.

Blackham was a son of Mr A. P. Blackham, Conservative Agent for South-East Derbyshire, who resides at Staveley, Chesterfield, and in reply to a letter of sympathy received from Mr A. L. N. Howe, the present clerk in the Coalville Offices, Mr Blackham has written a letter of thanks. The letter states: “Such sympathy as we have received helps us to bear our sorrow. It is gratifying to know that our dear lad was so beloved, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that he nobly died, fully prepared to meet his God, in the cause of freedom, King and country. He died for others.” The deceased was 22 years of age.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and kindly submitted (including photograph from the Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 05/09/2017