Barton, Harry John

zoom

Harry was born on 18 April 1881, the eldest child of Martha Barton. He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

Harry enlisted at Bedford on 31 August 1914 at the age of 33years 6 months with the Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental Number 14103. He served only 62 days and was discharged on 31 October 1914 being ‘not likely to become an efficient soldier due to defective vision’. Later, as the need for soldiers became more urgent Harry was enlisted with 23^rd Squadron Army Service Corps Remounts, Regimental Number R4/095999. He transferred to the Labour Corps, Regimental Number 703944.  It is not known in which Theatre of War he served but a few Remount squadrons did serve on the Western Front.  He survived the War.

Harry was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Before enlisting he was a farm labourer.

The 1939 census shows Harry living in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, single and a brewery labourer.

He died in 1^st quarter 1944.