Pte 269899 Harry Pitts

• Age: 21
• From: Marlew, Isle of Man
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 30th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Esquelbecq Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.A.8

Harry's photo appears with the kind permission of the Imperial War Museum

William Henry (Harry) Pitts was born in 1897 in Marlew, Isle of Man and was the son of William Pitts and his wife Isabella/Sissie (nee Curphey) of Ballakilley, St. John's, Isle of Man. His parents married at Marlew Parish Church, Isle of Man in 1894.

On the 1901 Census he is shown as William aged 3 born in Melew IOM living at Glenmeedle(?), Patrick. His father, William, is a 32 year old farmer, born in Melew IOM, whilst his mother Isabella is 29 and was also born in Melew IOM. He has three siblings;  Albert aged 7 born Melew IOM, John J. aged 5 also born in Melew IOM and Anne E. 9mths b.Patrick, IOM.

By the time of the 1911 Census he is shown as Harry aged 12 a scholar living with his parents and seven siblings at Ballakilley, German, IOM. His father, William is now 42 years of age and still a farmer,  whilst his mother Sissie Pitts is now shown as being 38 years old.They state that they have been married for 17 years and have had 8 children all of whom have survived. His siblings in the household are recorded as; Albert 16 and a farmers boy, James 15 also a farmers boy, Elizabeth 10 scholar, Edith 8 scholar, Florrance  6 scholar b.Patrick IOM, Ellener 3 b.Patrick IOM, Moses 4 months b.Patrick IOM. Also recorded is widower John Pitts 72 a retired farm labourer b.Melew IOM, this is presumably Harry's paternal grandfather. 

Harry enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 269899 when he died of wounds on the 30^th April 1918 aged 21 during the German Spring Offensive. His injuries were described as shrapnel wounds to the perineum. He died at 8pm at the O.C.3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. 

He now rests at Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France.

The cemetery was opened in April 1918 during the early stages of the German offensive in Flanders, when the 2nd Canadian and 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Esquelbecq. It was closed in September 1918, although one French grave was added in 1919 and one British soldier from 1916 was added later from an isolated site.

The cemetery was used again during the Second World War, mainly for the burial of those killed during the German advance of May 1940 and the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk.

Esquelbecq Military Cemetery contains 578 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 47 from the Second World War. There are also 11 French and German burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects for Henry Pitts to father William H., Pension to mother Sissie.

Harry's brother, James', exemption for War Service was reported in the Mona's Herald, Wednesday, May 03, 1916

James Pitts (20), employed by William Pitts, Ballakilley, St. John's.—Exempted.

Also in the Peel City Guardian, Saturday, May 20, 1916

James Pitts |20). Ballakilley, St. Johns.

This was the appeal of the Military authorities against conditional exemption granted by the Local Tribunal, on the grounds that there was sufficient help on the farm and that casual labour was to be had in close proximity to the farm, while the father was a smart man.

William Pitts, father and employer said his son was the only horseman besides himself for the working of 107 acres. It was impossible to get another man. His father, who was 77, lived with him. but had not been able to work for years. He had to work from five o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock at night. For two nights he had been working to ten o'clock for as to keep his lambs out of other people's grass and corn (laughter). He had a daughter of 15.

The decision was upheld. 

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