Harry's Story.
Nantwich Guardian, Friday January 4, 1918.
Prisoner of War
Private H. Carefull
Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Carefull of Beam street, Nantwich, who had no letter from their son, Private Harry Carefull, South Lancashire Regiment, for five weeks on Friday received a postcard from him saying that he was a prisoner in Germany and was in good health. Naturally, the anxiety of Mr. and Mrs. Carefull, whose eldest son has fallen in the war, was greatly relieved. Private Carefull, who has been in the army two years, was before joining up a junior reporter on the Nantwich Guardian.
Harry is reported via the Red Cross records as captured 30 November 1917. The 5th battalion South Lancashire war diary for the day states.
28th November 1917 Heavy massing of enemy troops on our front reported.
30th November 1917 Enemy attacked about 7.20am in great numbers and got through Viller-Guislain. Large numbers worked around southwards and attacked the battalion’s rear. Not an officer or a man came back and long after the enemy had advanced on our front were seen to be fighting round the battalion headquarters. The fighting qualities of the regiment were displayed at their best and a wonderful example has been given to the new battalion.
The approximate strength of the battalion in the line was 21 officers and 540 other ranks.
Harry was repatriated, arriving in London 14th April 1918 suffering with Epilepsy.
Harry's brother John Bird Carefull was killed in action 8th August 1917, his page can be found here.