Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Menin Road South Military Cemetery
Hospital Ship Salta
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Mark Harland Jnr, one of 10 children all of whom survived, was the 2nd born of 5 sons and had 1 elder and 4 younger sisters. His father Mark Harland Snr was born in 1869 at Peases Stanley, his mother Jane Anne Wood in 1875 at Bishop Auckland, both in County Durham. The couple were both living with their respective families at William Street, Craghead, prior to their marriage where Mark was employed as a coal miner. They were married at the Registry Office, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, January 2nd 1893.
Their daughter Elizabeth Ann was born in 1893, Robert, at Vigo, Birtley, in 1895, Mark at Fatfield near Washington in 1896 as was Alice 1898 and John William 1901. In 1901 they were living at 8, Washington Lane, in the village of North Roddick where Mark Snr was employed as a coal hewer, also in the household to supplement the family income was boarder, 56 years old William Holmes, a colliery labourer above ground. Their daughter Elizabeth Ann (8) was a visitor at Vigo Farm, Portobello Village, with Thomas and Mary Jane Blair. They remained at Fatfield and Mary Jane over the next ten years gave birth to a further 5 children, Dennis 1902 Thomas Blair 1904, Mary Jane 1906, Maggie, July 4th 1907 and Maria 1909. In 1911 they were living in 4 rooms at 26, Brown’s Buildings, Chester-le-Street, boarding with them was spinster, 67-year-old, Annie Maleing. Mark Snr was still employed as a hewer and had been joined by both Robert (16) and Mark (15) employed below ground as pony drivers. Daughter Florence was born in 1912.
Britain declared war with Germany August 4th 1914, Mark Harland enlisted at Chester-le-Street, February 3rd 1915 and was posted to the Infantry Depot at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, the following day. February 10th 1915 he joined the 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Woking in Surrey, which had been formed in August 1914 and because of the high number of miners in its ranks had been transferred to the 20th Division as a Pioneer Battalion. Assigned as Private 23553 he began his training, moving to Witley in February 1915, then on to Larkhill, Salisbury, Wiltshire for final training. While at Larkhill he overstayed his pass, due to return to the camp June 14th he was apprehended by the civilian police June 20th 1915 and returned under guard. He departed with his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force, July 20th 1915, disembarking at Boulogne, France that same day.
As part of C Coy 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry he and the other Pioneers assembled east of St. Omer before moving to the front working behind the lines, repairing roads, draining and digging trenches, laying barbed wire. During the Battles of the Somme they often worked at night and were not immune to shell fire, however, during September 1916 they were called upon to serve as infantrymen.
September 6th 1916 Private Harland was wounded and having been evacuated back through the lines for medical attention was eventually repatriated to England aboard the Hospital Ship Salta, September 21st 1916, he was hospitalised in England and once recovered, discharged, October 11th 1916, to furlough and light duty. He returned to the Command Depot at Ripon, Yorkshire, October 24th 1916, considered completely fit he returned to the front, November 18th 1916, joining the 11th Battalion in the field near Guillemont, spending the remainder of the winter in the mud filled trenches.
December 4th 1916 Private Harland absented himself without permission, reprimanded as, “while on active service having deserted his post,” and was involved in several other absences until he was sentenced to a term of reclusion, shipped back to the U.K. and incarcerated at Barlinnie Detention Barracks. During his time there he exercised in squad drill, musketry, bombing and bayonet training. His sentence was reduced by 11 days and he was released from the barracks, June 7th 1917, returning with the first available draft to front line duty.
Private Harland was wounded a second time and repatriated suffering from a shrapnel wound to the left shoulder. He was hospitalised at Ripon, Yorkshire, June 20th until July 12th 1917, then posted to the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry at South Shield for retraining and light duties until fully recovered. July 29th 1917 he departed to France arriving at the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on the 30th, where he remained until being posted August 19th 1917 to the 15th Battalion D.L.I, joining his regiment in the field on the Hindenberg Line before moving to the Ypres salient in Belgium participating during the Third Battle of Ypres which had begun July 31st and raged until November 10th 1917.
After a lull in hostilities October 6th 1917 Private 23553 Mark Harland Durham Light Infantry was reported as missing not having been seen since October 2nd. His next of kin were informed and his death was confirmed in a burial report dated November 23rd 1917. Confirmed to have been killed in action or died of wounds received in Action between October 2nd to 6th, in the field, by the Burial Officer “X” Corps. His remains were interred at Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. He is at rest grave II. I. 32, he was 22 years of age and single.
His father Mark Harland received all monies due to his son from the Army also his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 26, Brown’s Buildings, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
Other than Mark only Robert of all his brothers would have been eligible to serve. As Private Robert Harland he served with the Durham Light Infantry and the Lincolnshire Regiment. It appears their father Mark Harland Snr attempted to enlist at Stanley and succeeded in doing so by grossly reducing his actual age. He was accepted and as Private 3998 Durham Light Infantry, served in England.
Mark Harland died, aged 66 years, during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1935, his widow Jane Ann Harland nee Wood died during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1935, both registered in the district of Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Mark Harland is remembered at Birtley on B127.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 276
