Harold Easter Henson

War Service

Harold enlisted on 5th August 1914 age 21. He joined C Company, 4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light infantry and trained at Wakefield, Doncaster, Saltfleet, Gainsborough and York until 10th April 1915 when he was made Sergeant.
He was posted to France on 11th April 1915. Between 6th February 1916 until 26th March 1917 he was part of the 148th Machine Gun Corps, 4th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, number 23579.  He then became a Sergeant Major, serving in the York & Lancaster Regiment.
He served at Ypres and on 2nd June 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal for keeping three machine guns firing when all the officers had been killed.
He spent some time in England from 27th March 1917 to 1st November 1917 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 26th September 1917 and he returned to France. 
On 1st November he joined the 188th Machine Gun Corps and remained with them until 1st March 1918 when he transferred to the 63rd RND Machine Gun Battalion where he remained until 12th February 1919 when he was demobilised. He was awarded the Military Cross on 18th October 1918 for gallantry. Whilst under heavy sniper fire, he reconnoitred a position 300 yards in front of the line, led his section to it and neutralized the enemy machine guns.
He was wounded on 21st March 1918.

Family Life

Harold Easter Henson was born in 1892. From 1910 until 1914 he trained with the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light infantry (Territorial Force) as a Private, number 2371.
Having survived the War Harold had a successful 40 year career as foreman at Bradley & Craven Ltd, engineering manufacturers in Wakefield. He worked there both before and after World War One. 
He married Evelyn Roe in 1922 and they had one daughter Greta Henson born 16th August 1928.
He died on 21st March 1953.