Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Harold Short, known as Harold, one of 4 children, was the youngest of 3 brother and had a younger sister. His parents William Thomas Short born 1859 at Gunnislake and Clara Down born 1866 at Tutwell, both in Cornwall, were married in 1881 in the district of Tavistock, Devon. Their sons Francis Aubrey and Archie Ambrose Short were born 1883 and 1885 respectively at Calstcck, as was Harold, March 31st 1890 just prior to his family’s migration to the north east. By 1891 they had settled at 8, South Pontop, Greencroft where William Snr was employed as a coal miner. Between 1891 and 1898 they had returned to Tavistock, it was here that son Francis Aubrey died in 1898, 15 years of age, the following year their daughter Ellen May was born June 15th 1899. When William Thomas Short died in the district of Tavistock in 1900 Clara returned to Chilsworth, Calstock, her only means of support was Archie (16) working as a grocer’s assistant. She and her daughter remained in Cornwall and Devon whilst Archie and Harold both returned to the north east. Harold (21) was employed as a coal miner shifter below ground at South Pontop Colliery, Annfield Plain, living as one of 3 boarders in the home of Ellen Benson at 25, Ryde Terrace.
William Harold Short enlisted at Consett assigned as Private 25762 Northumberland Fusiliers and was posted to the 11th Battalion, 68th Brigade, 23rd Division part of Kitchener’s New Army. They moved to Bullswater, Hampshire in September 1914. The Division transferred to Aldershot for the winter, then on to Shorncliffe, Kent where some of the infantry were deployed to construct coastal defences south of London in April and May 1915 before transferring to Bordon, Hampshire for final training. Private Short departed with his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force July 20th 1915 landing at Boulogne.
The 23rd Division, attached to the III Corps, September 5th 1915 moved to the Merris-Vieux Berquin sector for trench familiarisation under the guidance of the more experienced 20th and 27th Divisions before taking over the front line on the 14th between Ferme Grande Flamengrie to Armentieres-Wez Macquart road. During the Battle of Loos they held the Bois Grenier line until being relieved at the end of January 1916 and joining Divisional H.Q. at Bruay for a period of rest. March 3rd 1916 they returned to the front line taking over the Boyau de L’Ersatz and Souchez River from the French 17th Division. Some of the men with a mining background were transferred for a brief period to a Tunnelling Company to the ranks of the Royal Engineers. After a further period of rest at Bruay they returned to the Souchez River sector just before the German attack at Vimy Ridge, May 21st 1916, followed by the divisions participation during the Battles of the Somme where they were in action at Albert, Contalmaison, Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy including the capture of Le Sars.
During 1917 either on leave or recovering from illness/wounds Private Short was in England where he married Flossie Hall Pilkington during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1917 in the district of Bury, Lancashire, before re-joining his regiment on the Western Front in France.
Private 25762 William Harold Short died April 15th 1917 and interred at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave II. E. 16.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 42, Walmersley Road, Bury, Lancashire. She remarried in 1931, district of Bury, to Clifford Nunns born January 8th 1903 who died in 1978 aged 75 years in Greater Manchester within three months of his wife Flossie Hall Nunns-Short nee Pilkington aged 87 years. There do not appear to have been any children from either marriage.
Harold’s brother Archie died in the district of South Shields in 1918, no war record exists for him, neither is he listed with the CWGC as a casualty of war. Ellen May Short married Frank Welsh in 1920 and died aged 80 years, district of Crewe, Cheshire. Details of their mother Clara Short nee Down unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Harold Short is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and G54.02 and at Annfield Plain on A38.01
