|
8531 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
Harry Argent was born in Glemsford in 1893, the son of James and Martha Argent. In 1914 his widowed mother was living at 86 East Street, Sudbury. He had two brothers who also served on the front: Ernest served with the Royal Field Artillery and Walter with the East Lancashire Regiment.
Harry was a regular soldier, in 1911 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion overseas in Mhow, India. He had served nine years with the army and had three years left to serve with the Reserves and had been working at the Motor Radiator Works in Great Cornard when he was re-called to his Regiment at the outbreak of war.
Harry first landed in France on 22 August 1914, his battalion formed part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division with the British Expeditionary Force and saw action at Le Cateau (28 August–5 September), The Battle of the Marne (7–10 September) and the Battle of the Aisne (12–15 September). In the October the BEF moved to Flanders from the Aisne in an effort to outflank the Germans and the battalion fought at the Battle of Armentieres (10 October–2 November).
Harry died aged 31 on 3 November 1914. His commanding officer wrote ‘He held an excellent character and was a great favourite amongst his pals’.
There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, near Armentieres and close to the French/Belgium border . Harry was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Ploegsteert Memorial in April 2009.
Back to Roll of Honour
|
