HAROLD CLAUDE ETTERLEY 1889–1954

Army Service Corp

Born 26 October 1889 in Nottingham

Died 1954, Warwickshire, age 65

1901 Census

No trace found

1911 Census

Harold was living with his father John 44, a gardener born in Hickling, mother Florence née Evans, 39, born in Putney, Middlesex and sisters Evelyn 15 and Winifred 13. They lived at 16 High Street, Bottesford. He was employed as a grocer’s assistant. His age is recorded on the census as 19 although this probably an error as the national birth index records his birth in 1889.

Military Service

Rank: Private

Service Number: 460303, previously T/452250, 76411

Military Unit: Labour Corps, 442 Agricultural Company, previously 281 Mechanical Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps, previously 2/1 Derbyshire Yeomanry

Theatre of War: service details indicate he served in the U.K. and therefore did not enter a theatre of war.

Enlisted in Nottingham 2nd December 1915

Address on enlistment: Colne Villas, Bingham Road, Radcliffe on Trent. Age 24, occupation provision salesman. Height 5ft 6½ ins, weight 127 lbs, girth 35½ins, rate of expansion ½ ins. Religion: Church of England. Distinguishing marks, scar left shin. Next of kin: John Etterley, father

2.2.17: Enlisted in 2/1 Derbyshire Yeomanry, Private 76411

27.10.17: Transferred to Labour Corps (Agricultural Company) Devizes

Period of service: Derbys Yeomanry 268 days; Royal Army Service Corps, 141 days

Labour Corps 1 year 239 days

27.3.19–28.3.19: Military hospital Tidworth, local antiseptic treatment

 28.3.19: Discharged to duty

2.4.19-19.4.19: ICT diseased hand in hospital 18 days. Result of infection of a small abrasion.

Casualty from active service

Medical report prior to discharge

Suffered with varicose veins in legs for 7 years. Patient states he cannot walk much more than a mile without pain in both his calves. He is unable to wear puttees and has been excused wearing them since being in the labour corps. He has always performed light duties such as milking. Not attributed to war – but aggravated by it. The patient’s general health is good. He has a varix of the large saphenous in the region of the calf of both his legs and a slight left sided varicocele. He is totally unfit for the duties of a regular soldier. Discharge as permanently unfit. Dated: June 5 1919

The medical board found that the soldier had not suffered any impairment in health since his entry into the service, as he had the condition on entry.

Demobbed 8th November 1919

Medals Awarded

No details available for campaign medals, presumably because he served in the U.K. and was therefore ineligible to receive them.

Military Personnel Address on 1918 Electoral Register

The Harlequin, Radcliffe on Trent with father John and mother Florence.

1921 Census

Address: The Harlequin, Radcliffe

Employment: Traveller Lipton Ltd, Long Row, Nottm

Household: father John, Market Gardener, mother Florence, sister Evelyn, shop assistant, Sketchley Dye Works

1922 Electoral Register

Address: The Harlequin, Radcliffe on Trent

Household: living with parents John and Florence

1939 Register

Address: 50 Friars Street, Warwick.

Occupation: Gauge inspector (Aircraft Works).

Household: Living with William E. Kendall Jnr, licensed victualler, William E. Kendall Snr, retired and May Kendall, unpaid domestic duties.

Harold’s mother Florence died in 1937 and his father John was living in Nottingham in 1939.

Reasons for inclusion on Radcliffe on Trent Roll of Honour

Lived in Radcliffe on Trent