Harry second from left
Harry James Vipond
Garrigill Churchyard
Photo: Pauline Priano
In St. John Churchyard, Garrigill, Cumberland, is a family headstone which reads;
In
Loving Memory of
JOHN VIPOND
Who died on the 6th of January
1905 aged 62 years
Also MARY his Wife
Who died September 15th 1930
Aged 85 years
HARRY JAMES 4th son of the above
Killed In Action somewhere in France
February 24th 1917 aged 29 years
ISAAC 3rd son of the above
Who died May 31st 1929
Aged 49 years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Harry James Vipond, one of 7 children all of whom survived, was the 4th born of 5 brothers and had 2 elder sisters. His father John Vipond born December 21st 1842, at Dryburn and mother Mary Ann Watson, born 1844 at High Rotherhope, both in the Parish of Alston, Cumberland, were married at St. John, Garrigill, Cumberland, December 8th 1870. Newly married they settled at Dryburn where John was an agricultural labourer. Rotherhope was the birthplace of their eldest son Thomas, August 11th 1872, John Joseph, September 18th 1874, daughter Frances, was born, September 28th 1876 at Ashgillside and Isaac at Williamston in Northumberland, in 1881. Later that year they were living at Knarsdale, historically in Northumberland, near Alston. John Vipond was now a farmer of 1250 acres employing 2 men, and also 3 servants Jonathan Park and William Sanderson indoor farm servants and Sarah Johnston general servant. Within 4 years they had a further 2 children, Mary Ada born 1884 and Harry James, December 7th 1885 at Knarsdale, however they had moved to Blanchland, Northumberland by 1891 where John had a holding at Cowbyers Farm and was assisted by Thomas (18) and Frances (16), Isaac, Mary and Harry, 10, 7 and 5 respectively were scholars, their youngest brother Octavius William was born, April 14th 1892, John Joseph who had left home was married later that year in district of Hexham, to Elizabeth Hindmarsh.
Whilst his family remained at Cowbyers Farm, Harry James (15), on the night of Sunday, March 31st 1901, was listed as a pupil at North Eastern County Schools, School for Boys, Newgate, Barnard Castle, Teasdale, County Durham, where he had first been admitted, May 4th 1897. He left July 29th 1904 and between 1904 to 1908 studied science at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge.
Harry’s father died, January 6th 1905, John Vipond was interred at St. John Churchyard, Garrigill, Cumberland. Probate Carlisle, February 3rd 1906, to Thomas Vipond and John Joseph Vipond farmers, effects in the sum of £1607 10s.
At Pembroke College Harry James took a First Class Degree in the National Science of Tripos, a wide range of physical and biological sciences and the history and philosophy of science. After taking his degree he was engaged on soil analysis at Rothamsted Experimental Station, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, now known as the Institute of Arable Crop Research, located at Harpenden, Hertfordshire, in connection with a soil survey of Surrey, Sussex and Kent. When General Smuts visited England in 1909 Harry James Vipond was selected for the Department of Agriculture at Pretoria, South Africa, on a 3-year contract as Assistant Chemist in October 1909, at the end of which in 1912 he was promoted to chemist and head of the Division of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture of The Union of South Africa.
Upon the outbreak of war with Germany he returned to England on leave from his position and although he could have served as an officer, described as, “a shy, quiet and retiring man,” he preferred to enlist where he would be most useful. He enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in June 1915, assigned as Private 16323 to the 2nd Battalion, departing to France, March 1916, joining his regiment in the field which had arrived at the front, August 13th 1914 and as of August 1915 had transferred to the 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division. Although the Guards Division was on the Western Front it did not take part in the early stages of the Battles of the Somme, only joining the action in the latter stages during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-16th and 20th-22nd 1916, the Battle of Morval September 25th-28th including the capture of Lesboeufs. At the conclusion of the Battles of the Somme the Division remained in the sector.
Private Vipond just prior to his death had volunteered and had asked to go on a very dangerous patrol with an officer and a few other men of his platoon. He was killed by a machine gun bullet through the heart, his death was instantaneous. His officer in a letter to his mother wrote, "Your son was in my platoon and was one of my most trusted and useful men and was conspicuous alike for his bravery and his ability. He had himself volunteered and asked to go on this patrol work, which was a most dangerous piece of work, and, at the same time, urgently needed. The Brigadier General, who had asked for this patrol, personally thanked us on our return and complimented us on the work done. He spoke of your son, and expressed the greatest regret that he had not lived to receive the praise that would have been his as a reward for his gallantry.”
Private 16323 Harry James Vipond Coldstream Guards died February 26th 1917, sadly his body was never recovered in order that he be given a Christian burial. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,315 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating United Kingdom and South African servicemen who fell on the Somme between 1915 and March 20th 1918 who have no known grave. Private Harry James Vipond was 31 years of age and single. Awards British War Medal and Victory Medal.
It should be noted the family headstone states he was 29 years of age however as previously stated he was born, December 7th 1885, his birth was registered during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/March) 1886, thus he was 31 years of age.
As per his will, legatee Emily Moss received all monies due to him from the Army, his mother Mary Vipond of Station Road, Alston, Cumberland, a pension of 8 shillings a week from December 17th 1920 to June 20th 1921, renewed at 16 shillings until September 19th 1921 then increased to 17 shillings 6 pence until March 20th 1922 and thereafter refused under regulation Class I. His personal effects in the sum of 514 pounds 6 shillings 10 pence, were, as per his will, assigned to his widowed mother Mary Vipond, administration, London, August 8th 1917.
During his time in Pretoria he published many important papers. Part of a bulletin of the South African Biological Society states, “His loss will be severely felt in the Department and outside, for he was a faithful and zealous labourer in a field which has great opportunities and in which men are badly needed. Those of his colleagues who were privileged to know him feel that they will not see his like again.” Harry James Vipond was a member of the South African Association of Analytical Chemists and a Foundation Member of the South African Biological Society (F.B.S.).
Harry’s mother Mary Vipond nee Watson died September 15th 1930 aged 85 years, whilst living at Front Street, Alston, she was interred with the husband, John, in the family plot within St. John’s Garrigill, Cumberland.
Details as regards Harry James’ siblings;
Isaac Vipond (49) died May 31st 1929 and interred with his parents at St. John Garrigill.
Farmers John Joseph Vipond (62) and Thomas Vipond (77) of Cowbyers Farm died July 30th 1937 and December 2nd 1949, respectively, both registered in County Durham.
Neither of his sisters ever married. Midwife Mary Ada Vipond (51) died September 23rd 1935, Frances Bell Vipond (84) died May 20th 1961, both registered in Cumberland,.
At the age of 19, in 1911, farmer Octavius William Vipond emigrated to America before crossing to Canada. He served during WW1 as Private 872088 Octavius William Vipond Canadian Expeditionary Force, in France and survived the conflict.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Harry James Vipond is remembered at at Blanchland on B40.01 and at Barnard Castle School, B135.04 and B135.20
