WW1 Casualty: Sjt 15934 Harold Eyden - Sjt 15934 Harold Eyden
| Unit/Regiment |
17th Bn, King's (Liverpool) Regiment |
| Date of Death |
30/07/1916 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Peronne Road Cemetery
II B 28 |
| Census Details |
1901 - 8 years old Harry is living at 13 Windle Street, St Helens with parents Harry (47), Jane (44) and five siblings: Jane Elizabeth (16), Frederick Samuel Eyden (14), Jack F Eyden (11), Cosby Isabel (9), James White Eyden (6).
1911 Census:
The Eyden family lived at Deane Villas on Prescot Road, St Helens. Head of Household Harry, aged 57 and a native of Northamptonshire, had been married for 28 years to Jane, who originated from Stafford. Harry was an Accountant for Coal Tolls.
Their children were Grace, 26, and Frederick Samuel Eyden (24), both born in Rugby, Jack F Eyden (21), born in Huddersfield, Cicely (19) and Harry (18), both born in Newton-le-Willows, and James White Eyden 16, born in St Helens. Frederick Samuel Eyden and Jack F Eyden were both Clerks on the railways while Harry worked as a clerk for BI & HC Ltd in Prescot. |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Newton-le-Willows |
| Enlisted |
Liverpool |
| Resided |
St Helens |
| Notes |
Sjt Eyden is remembered on the BICC War Memorial
In November 1914, 'Link' magazine reported that he worked in the Estimating Department
Then in August 1916 he was reported by the 'Link' as having been killed in action |
| Research Ref. No. |
BI-043 |
Service DetailsAfter training at the Watch works in Prescot, closed to where he worked at the Wire Works, Harry Eden went to France with the 17th Battalion of the King's (Liverpool) Regiment on 7th November 1915
The 17th Battalion returned to front line trench duty on the night of the 17th/18th June at Maricourt. By this time, the planning and preparations for the Somme offensive were well under way. On 24th June, the preliminary bombardment commenced and it was 2 days before the Germans started to become active in returning the fire. By the end of June the battalion reported 17 other ranks killed and 57 wounded, all of these would have been the result of the German response to the bombardment.
As part of the Somme offensive, the 17th battalion were responsible for the capture of Montauban (popularly known to the troops as 'Montybong'). Under the command of Lt. Col. B.C. Fairfax they moved up to their assembly trenches by 3.30a.m. on the morning of 1st July, These being on the frontage of the Maricourt - Briquerie Road. A French battalion was on their right and 20th (King's) on their left, The German lines were between 200 and 400 yards ahead.
The attack commenced at 7.30a.m. with a swarm of men going 'over the top'. It is worthy of note that this was the first time the new steel helmets had been worn. The battalion advanced quickly across 'No Mans Land' with very little resistance and they quickly took their first objective, known as 'Dublin Trench' by 8.30, the alloted time, and then dug in. The battalion suffered casualties of 3 officers wounded and 100 other ranks killed and wounded.
The battalion also reported the 3rd July as 'a quiet day' although German shelling continued.
On 30th July, the Battalion was in MALTZ HORN TRENCH. The diary reads,
"BATTLE begun. Zero hour 4:45 a.m. The Battalion reached its objective but suffered heavy losses and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements. At 12 noon, the Roll Call was 7 officers and 43 men.
Total casualties were:-
Lt-Col G Rollo wounded
Killed:- Capt. Adj. W Fraser, Capt. W Wellman, Lieut. H Jones, Lieut H Carver, Lieut R Vaughan-Roberts, 2nd Lieut T Eddison.
Wounded:- 2nd Lieut F Mackie
Wounded and Missing:- Capt W Dickson, 2nd Lieut P Furlong
Total casualties in Other Ranks - 425 of which 76 were killed, 172 wounded and 177 missing"
Sjt Eyden was officially recorded as 'Killed' on 30th July.
Originally buried close to where he fell, Sjt Eyden's body was exhumed after the war and brought into Peronne Road Cemetery, part of the concentration of scattered burials.
Harold was one of four brothers who died in the Great War
The 1915 Star Medal Rolls, showing Harry Eden landing in France in November 1915
The Register of Soldiers Effects, listing Harry's father as next of kin
Harry Eyden's grave at Peronne Road, courtesy of George Simpson, June 2015
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