L/Cpl 15449 Harry Hufton

• Age: 23
• From: Widnes
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 27th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.K.16

Harry Hufton was born in the second quarter of 1893 in Widnes, the son of Arthur Hufton, a cooper born in Davenham, Cheshire, and his wife Sarah (nee Bushell) who married on 22nd December 1872 at St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool. He had siblings Mary E, Lucy F, Arthur, William, Maggie, John, Sarah Ellen and Hilda Florence.

He was educated at West Bank Council School in Widnes and attended St Mary's Church and Sunday School.

In 1901 the family lived at 11 Church Street, Widnes. Harry is 7 years old and lives with his parents and seven siblings. His father is a 50 year old cooper, whilst his mother is 47 years old and was born in Woolton, Liverpool. His siblings, all born in Widnes, are listed as: Arthur aged 25, John aged 18 and Wilfred (recorded as step brother) aged 17 are all labourers at a chemical factory. He has four sisters; Mary E. a 16 year old domestic servant, Sarah E. aged 14, Hilda P. aged 10 and Ivy G. aged 4.  

In 1911, Harry is aged 18 and works as a a clerk at a signal works on the railway. He lives with his parents Arthur and Sarah and three sisters at 30 Sandstone Road, Stoneycroft, Liverpool. His parents advise that they have been married for 38 years and have had 12 children of whom 9 have survived. His sisters still living at home are recorded as; Sarah Ellen a 24 year old telephone operator, Hilda Florence a 20 year old dressmaker working from home, and Ivy Gladys a 15 year old domestic servant. Also declared in the household is: William Ashworth an 11 year old scholar described as Grandson.

Harry’s enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15449.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His medal card shows that he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and served from 07^th November 1915 in France, earning all 3 medals.

He was killed in action on 27^th June 1916, aged 23 years. 

The British bombardment of the German lines, in preparation for the ‘Big Push’, begins on 24th June 1916.  On the 26th the German counter-barrage begins and inflicts quite serious losses on the 17th and 20th battalions.

The 17th Bn War Diary for 26th/27th June shows: “heavy enemy bombardment of front line trenches.  Casualties: Killed O.R. 17, Wounded O.R. 57”

Harry was one of the other ranks referred to in the diary.

His death was reported in the local press under the header:

TWO COMRADES TAKEN AND ONE WOUNDED

Lance Corporal Harry Hufton youngest son of Mr and Mrs A. Hufton, late of 84 Oakland Street, Widnes and now of 30 Sandstone Road, Stoneycroft, Liverpool, fell in France on 27th June while in action with the King's (Liverpool) Regiment (1st Pals). Deceased was a bomb thrower, and a comrade who had both his legs blown off by the shell which killed Lance-Corporal Hufton, states in a letter that there were three of them together at the time, and a shrapnell shell burst and killed two, leaving the writer seriously wounded. Deceased wrote his last letter on 25th June and in it told his parents to look out for news on the 26th. 

The late Lance Coporal Hifton was 23 years of age, and up till eight years ago lived in Widnes. At West Bank Council School he won several certificates for good attendance and attended St Mary's Church and Sunday School. He was a brother of Mrs W Ashworth, Telephone Exchange, Widnes and of Mr W Hufton - Moorland Road. His brother in law Private W Ashworth is with the Royal Defence Corps in Shrewsbury. The deceased was an all round athlete and played football for St Anne's junior team. He was a Sunday School teacher in connection with St Anne's Parish Church. 

He was buried close to where he fell in Maricourt Military Cemetery and his grave marked with a cross. The cemetery was at the south-east corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron.  It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July 1916. 

After the war when graves were concentrated his body was removed and reinterred in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery where he now rests.

His headstone bears the epitaph:

"NEVER FORGOTTEN BY THOSE WHO LOVED HIM"

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His family placed memorial notices, on the first anniversary of Harry's death, in the Liverpool Echo dated 27th  June 1917 

-  Roll of Honour – HUFTON – In loving remberance of our dear brother Lance Corporal Harry Hufton who fell in action Jun 27 1916 also of his dear chum  Cecil Bryan (Right dear in the eyes of the Lord and the deaths of His saints) – Tom and May

HUFTON – In sad but honoured memory of Lance Corporal Harry Hufton (KLR) who was killed in action June 27 1916 (Always remembered by Ann Fayle 25 St Albans.

HUFTON – In remembers of my chum Harry who was killed in France June 26 1916 – Tom

Also in the Liverpool Echo dated 29th June 1917 

- Roll of Honour HUFTON – In loving memory of Lance Corporal Harry Hufton (Pals) who fell in action in France June 27 1916.  Ever remembered by all at ‘Mooscava’ Prestatyn

Again on the second anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo dated 27th June 1918 

-  HUFTON In sad memory of Harry KLR killed in action June 27 1916 – A Fayle, 25 St Albans

HUFTON – In ever loving memory of our dear brother L/Cpl Harry Hufton KLR killed in action June 27 1916.  Also his dear chum Cecil Bryan killed in action Jan 28 1916.  Holy Father in Thy mercy hear our prayer, Keep our loved ones we beseech The in Thy care. Tom and May – Old Style House, Chapel Street. 

Soldiers Effects to father Arthur, Pension to mother Sarah and sisters M.E.Jones, Lucy Fanny Ashworth.

His father died in the December quarter of 1930 aged 79.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1941 aged 87. 

We currently have no further information on Harry Hufton. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.