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R/21314 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Henry Archibald Sillitoe, known as Harry was born in 1876 in Sudbury, one of seven children of Frederick and Mary Ann Eliza (Lizzie) Sillitoe. His father was a confectioner and the family lived above the business on Market Hill, Sudbury.
Harry married Alice Frances Heath on 30 March 1907 in Pimlico, London and they had a daughter Barbara. Harry was a shipping agent and the family lived at 52 Salford Road, Streatham Hill in South London where they employed two live in servants.
Harry enlisted in Southwark to serve with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, which formed part of 42nd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. In the summer of 1916 the battalion saw action during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November) at Delville Wood (15 July – 3 September) and in mid September it was engaged in heavy fighting during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15 – 22 September) near the village of Ginchy. This is where a new weapon, the tank was used for the first time; it had been developed in secrecy and came as a surprise to both the enemy and British troops.
Harry was killed in action on 15 September 1916. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Harry was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Thiepval Memorial in April 2006 and April 2009.
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