Harold Zetland Harling

Private. 38697. 'C' Company. 9th Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Born: 1899and baptised in Golcar the same year.

Son of Willie a Cloth Finisher, and Mary Elizabeth.

Grandson of Richard and Sarah A. Whitwwam.

Address: 78 Church St, Golcar.

Killed in action: 27th May 1918. Aged 19.

Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial to The Missing.

Harold's parents had always lived with his mother's parents. His father died on 8th March 1902. His mother was married again in 1910 in Dewsbury to Fred Liley of 10 Stonefield St. Dewsbury. They had a son, Percy in 1911. Harold remained living with his grandparents at 73 Church St. Golcar.

The town of Siossons stands on the left bank of the River Aisne approximately 100km north east of Paris. The memorial is constructed of Portland stone and holds the names of 3,876 officers and men who lost their lives during the Battles of Aisne and Marne in 1918, and have no known grave.

At the end of April 1918, five divisions of Commonwealth forces (1X Corps) were posted to the French 6th Army in this sector to rest and refit after the German offensives on the Somme and Lys. Here at the end of May they found themselves facing the overwhelming German attack which, despite fierce opposition, pushed the Allies back across the Aisne to Marne. Having suffered 15,000 fatal casualties, 9th Corps was withdrawn from the front in early July, but replaced by 12th Corps, who took part in the Allied counter attack that had driven the Germans back by August and recovered lost ground.