Son of Mr John & Mrs Rose Mead
Husband of Sarah (nee Underwood)
Aged 36 years
Died 14th November 1917
Commemorated at Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, Belgium
Grave X. A.11
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Born at Rushden, enlisted at Northampton.
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The Rushden Echo, Friday 23 November 1917, transcribed by Clive Wood
Rushden Soldier's Death - Private Harry Mead - A Higham Ferrers Boot Operative
We sincerely regret to report that Mr and Mrs J Mead, of 41, Victoria road, Rushden, have received news from unofficial sources that their eldest son, Pte Harry Mead, of the Northants Regiment, was killed in action on November 14th. The sad news is sent by Pte H Perkins, who writes under date November 18th as follows:
"I am sorry to have to inform you that your son Harry was killed on November 14th. I can assure you that he suffered no pain, as he was killed by a shell and died instantly and was buried respectably. It was a great a loss to all his comrades in the company, as he was well liked by all who knew him, and that all send their deepest sympathy. Trusting God will give you strength to bear your loss."
The late Pte Mead, who was 36 years of age, went to France about 2½ years ago, and had been through the thickest of the fighting, although up to the time of his death he had come through unscathed. His narrow escapes, however, have been remarkable. On one occasion his rifle was smashed and his pack and a portion of his clothes blown away, but he escaped without a scratch. Before enlistment he was in the employ of the Co-operative Boot Production Society, Higham Ferrers. He was a well-known footballer, having played for some time with the Rushden Fosse Football Club. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn their loss.
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The Rushden Echo, Friday 14 December 1917, transcribed by Clive Wood
Killed By a Stray Shell Rushden Soldier's Sad End Captain's Tribute
Mrs Mead, of 41 Victoria road, Rushden has received the following letter regarding the death of her son, Pte Harry Mead, of the Northants Regiment, reported in the "Rushden Echo" on November, 23rd:-
"Dear Mrs Mead, I am very sorry to tell you your son was killed last November 14th. One of our officers has already written you, and so has our Padre. The poor fellow was killed instantly by a shell and it was very bad luck, as at the time we were a long way from the trenches. The Germans just put over a stray shell which happened to hit him. He will be a very great loss to me, as he was my best signaller, and a man whom it will be very hard to replace, you have the sympathies of the whole company in your loss - Yours sincerely, G H Gadsden, Captain."
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