HARRY BARLOW 

Harry Barlow was born in Birkenhead, in 1885, the son of Joseph and Jane Barlow. His parents had been born in Heswall; his father in 1854, and his mother in 1850. The couple married in 1882 and had 2 children. By 1911, they were living at 15, Derby Street, Birkenhead, with their son, Harry. Also living with them was their granddaughter, Edith Reece (born in 1898). Joseph Barlow was a Brewery Carter, and Harry Barlow was a Domestic Gardener for a Mrs Land, of “Delavor”, Noctorum.

 

On 12th December 1915, Harry Barlow had enlisted under the Derby Scheme into the 3rd/4th Bn Cheshire Regiment (No. 4303), and at his medical he was recorded as being 5ft 6in tall, weighing 122lbs, and with a fully expanded chest of 36in. He also had a scar under his left lower jaw, and a birthmark above his left groin. At the time of his enlistment, he was still employed as a Gardener. was then posted to the Army Reserve. He was mobilized on 20th March 1916. On completion of his training, Private Barlow was sent to France, embarking at Southampton, on 7th September 1916, and disembarked at Rouen, on 8th September 1916, and was sent to No.4 Infantry Base Depot. On 16th September 1916, he was posted to the 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment, and issued a new regimental number – 49431, joining the battalion in billets at Mesnil-Domqueur. Private Barlow continued to serve with his new battalion until, when it was in the Stuff Redoubt sector, he received burns to his buttock on 6th October 1916 and was admitted to 76th Field Ambulance. On the following day, he was admitted to 75th Field Ambulance and then sent to and admitted to 49th Casualty Clearing Station on 7th October 1916. Private Barlow was transferred to a Convalescence Depot on 19th October 1916. He re-joined 4th Infantry Base Depot, Rouen, on 21st October 1916, and finally re-joined 10th Bn Cheshire Regiment on 9th November 1916. In February 1917, he was selected/volunteered to take part in a raid that his battalion was to take part on Meeanee Day – 17th February 1917 and was sent to Romarin. Here they practised the raid on some mock German trenches and stayed at Regina Camp. On completion of training for the raid, the raiders were moved back up to the Ploegsteert Sector, and on the morning of 17th February 1917, the raid went in. Private Barlow was killed in action during the raid. You can read more about the raid here

His body was never recovered and identified from the battlefield and is therefore commemorated by name only on Panel’s 4 & 5, The Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

 

His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. His memorial scroll was received by his widow on 12th December 1920 and received her husband’s medals on 1st February 1922.

 Harry Barlow was also commemorated on Christchurch war memorial, Oxton.



Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.