33319, Private, Harry Charles POND
Aged 41
|
Born in Exning in Q1-1876 [Newmarket 3b:567] 3rd son (of 5) of Charles and Elizabeth Pledger POND (née HARDING), of 4 Shaves Cottages,
Exning. 1881 census...Harry [5] was at 4 Shaves Cottages, Exning with his father Charles [36], a baker, born Newmarket; his mother Elizabeth [30] born Reach, and sister Helen [11] born Newmarket; brother George [8] born Newmarket; brothers Obadiah [6]; Frank W [2] and Walter [ 9 months] all born in Exning. 1891 census...Harry [15] was a grocer's assistant, living at 7 Shaves Cottages, Exning, with his parents; brothers George; Obadiah; Walter and William F [12], born Exning, and sisters Estell M [3] and Amy E [ 8 months] both born Exning. Brother William here must be Frank W from 1901. 1901 census...Harry is not found in the 1901 census. It is possible that, like so many, he had served in the Boer Wars at this time, but no records have been fond. His parents and sisters Maud ( Estell) and Amy were at 6 Shaves Cottages, Exning. 1911 census...Harry [34] was single, a bricklayer's labourer, living with his mother and sister Amy in St Philip's Road, Newmarket. His mother is still given as married and 3 of 10 children had died. By the time of his death his mother was at 5 Foulden Terrace, Exning Road, Newmarket. He enlisted in Newmarket, initially in the Suffolk Regiment |
|
His entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads: "Born in Exning Road and educated at All Saints School, when war was declared he was working for Mr. Holland, builder. He joined up under the Derby Scheme although over age. He was training at Tring and went to France in 1916 with the Yorkshire Regiment. He was badly wounded on the Ypres front and only survived twenty four hours. He was buried at Poperinghe, his own comrades carrying him to the grave. A great follower of Newmarket Football Team, although he did not play much himself." 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment spent the first three weeks of September 1917 in the area of Poperinghe and then moved by rail on the 24th to Reigersburg, a short distance NNW of Ypres. From there they marched to dug-outs in the banks of the Yser canal. This was likely to be about where Essex Farm cemetery is today. The next day they took over front line duties in shell holes rather than trenches and for three days came in for very heavy shelling. 5 of Harry's battalion were killed the day he was wounded, and 25 of the 6th Yorkshires died the next day, 8 have identified graves |
© Roy Beardsworth
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details