1444, Private, Harry PILFOLD
Aged 29
|
Born in Newmarket on 14th March 1886 [Newmarket 3b:563], 2nd son of James Edward and Elizabeth PILFOLD (née CHALLIS) of Nelson Cottage, Mill Hill, Newmarket.
1891 census...Harry [5] was at Icewell Hill, Newmarket with his father James [38], farm labourer; his mother Elizabeth [37]; sisters Kate [18]; Susan [14] and Louise [12] and brothers John [16] bricklayers labourer and George[1]; uncles George[34] and Harry PILFOLD[30]. All the family were born in Newmarket. 1901 census...Harry [15] a navvy, was still at Icewell Hill with his parents, sister Louise and sister Maud[7] and brother Daniel [5] both new siblings born in Newmarket. 1911 census...Harry [25] a bricklayers labourer was still at Icewell Hill with his parents (father now a well sinker) and sister Maude. 4 of the 11 children had died. Generally known as "Tip" he was employed at the sewerage farm for about two years. He had been twice to Canada and once to Australia. At the outbreak of war he was a foreman on the Canadian Pacific Railway at Winnipeg. The allocation from his pay was sent to his father at "Nelson Cottage", Icewell Hill. Harry "Tip" PILFOLD could have been the Henry PILFORD on the SS Corsican, leaving Liverpool for Canada on 18th May 1911 According to an entry on an Ashford memorial report apparently he married but his wife died before March 1915. They had a son Frederick Harry PINFOLD but no sources have been found for this information and it seems likely this is a mis-identification, but research in Canada will be needed. There is no mention in his Canadian Army records of any marriage and to the day of his death his pay stoppages remained at £20 per month to his mother in Newmarket and his next of kin as father.No trace of any marriage has been found. |
|
He enlisted in the Canadian Forces on 20th September 1914 at Valcartier. 5' 8 1/2"(174 cm), chest 35" to 38" (88.9 to 96.5 cm),
blue eyes, black hair, Church of England. His name is written as PILFOLD or PILFORD at times, but all
Newmarket records and his grave marker and Canadian Army forms have PILFOLD National Archives of Canada RG150/Accession 1992-93/166,Box 7834-17. Initially in the 8th Battalion, 96th Lake Superior Regt, they sailed for Europe on 3rd October 1914. On 24th April 1915 he was on duty in Ypres, and was next in Hazebrouck. Sustaining a gunshot wound to the head and suffering from gas poisoning he was taken to 4 Field Ambulance, then to 2 Field Bakery Canadian Aid Station, then admitted to 12 General Hospital, Rouen, on 7th May 1915, being transferred to 2 Western General Hospital Manchester on 11th May. Via Worsley Hall he then reached Canadian Convalescence Hospital, Monks Hall. He was granted sick leave on 25th May and discharged as fit for duty on 29th July and posted to 11 Reserve Battalion at St Martins Plains, Shornecliffe. He then requested transfer to 32nd Battalion which seemingly was granted, but he was transferred to Canadian Ordnance Corps in Ashford on 18th September 1915. He had a 3 day leave to Newmarket just before his death, which he apparently overstayed as he was docked 2 days pay on 6th November for being absent without leave. On 15th November he was found dead in bed and the records show death was due to heart failure consequent to his gas poisoning. Records from Ashford say that he died at 105 Christchurch Road, Ashford on 15th November 1915. (Ashford Q4-1915 2A:1173). A coroners inquest held that it was from heart failure as a result of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary congestion consequent to gas poisoning received in action. The Newmarket Journal of 20th November reported:- Newmarket and the War - HERO'S DEATH FROM GAS POISONING One of the first to answer his country's call, upon the outbreak of the war, was Pte. Harry Pilfold, second son of Mr.Jas.Pilfold, of Nelson Cottage, Icewell Hill, Newmarket, who enlisted on Aug.19th 1914, in the 8th Co., 90th Winnipeg rifles, and came to England with the 1st Canadian Contingent, which reached England in the following September. He sailed for France with his battalion on Feb.10th,1915, and before he had been long in the trenches was slightly wounded in the head by a shell splinter, on March 5th. The magnificent courage and tenacity shown by the gallant Canadians in the memorable fighting in the Ypres district will never be forgotten; and Pte. Pilfold was in the thick of the fighting during the whole time when the Canadians gained such undying fame. He was "gassed" three times in April, and after being in hospital at Rouen, was sent over to the Manchester Infirmary. Subsequently he was in a convalescent home, and then, being considered fit for light duty, was attached tot he Canadian Ordnance Corps at Ashford, Kent. He was home on three days leave little more than a week ago, and then returned to his duties. He, however, never recovered from the effects of the German gas, and on Tuesday was found dead in his bed at Ashford. An inquest was held on Wednesday, and was attended by his father and his eldest brother, Mr.John Pilfold, road foreman at Bury St.Edmunds. The medical evidence showed the the "gassing" had caused chronic bronchitis and congestion of the lungs.The right side of the heart was very much enlarged, and the spleen was three times the normal size. A verdict of "death from gas poisoning" was returned, the coroner remarking that it was the equivalent of "death from wounds received in action" - Pte.H.Pinfold (generally known as 'Tip') was employed at the Newmarket sewerage farm for about two years, and was 29 years of age. He had been twice in Canada, and was also at one time in Australia. At the outbreak of the war he was a foreman in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Winnipeg. On Wednesday his body was conveyed on a gun carriage to the Railway Station at Ashford. The Canadian troops at the camp escorted it, and the "Last Post" was sounded by the buglers. The remains reached Newmarket yesterday (Thursday), and will be interred at the Newmarket Cemetery with military honours today (Friday) at 2:30 pm. General sympathy will be felt for Mr.and Mrs Pilfold and family in their loss. Then on 27th November the Journal reported:- Military Funeral in Newmarket - With full military honours the mortal remains of Pte. Harry Pilfold, late 90th Winnipeg Rifles (second son of Mr.Jas.Pilfold, of Icewell Hill, Newmarket), who died last week at Ashford, Kent, from the effects of gas poisoning sustained at the front, were laid to rest in the Newmarket Cemetery on Friday afternoon of last week. The streets through which the cortege passed were thronged, and there was a large assemblage at the cemetery. The procession was headed by a firing party of the 2/4th Northamptonshire Regt.,under Sergt.Stretton, marching with arms reversed,and the band of the same battalion, under Sergt-Major Allen. On approaching the cemetery the band played the Dead March in Saul. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack, and on it were placed several lovely wreaths, including three from the Canadian Ordnance Corps, to which the deceased had been attached since leaving hospital. Eight men of the Northamptonshire Regiment acted as bearers. The principal mourners were as follows:-Mr.James Pilfold (father), Mrs.....(further check on Journal needed)...A Company of the Northamptonshire Regt., under Lieut.Garrard, brought up the rear. The Canadian Contingent of the British Expeditionary Force was represented by Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant Carpenter and Pte. P.Moor of the Canadian Ordnance Corps. Among the crowd at the cemetery was Mr.H.Holland, J.P.,Chairman of the Newmarket Urban District Council,by whom the deceased had, previous to his going to Canada, been employed, Mr.B.Newton ( a member of the council) and a number of other prominent townsmen. The service was impressively conducted by the Rev.H.B.Young, Rector of St Mary's. At the close the firing party fired three volleys over the grave, the drums being rolled between each volley, and then, after fixing bayonets, presented arms, while a bugler sounded "Last Post"... |
the photo above shows a military funeral in Newmarket Cemetery and is possibly of Harry 
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details