Harold was born in Stepney on 15th November 1892 and like his sister, Florence, he attended Ilford County High School. He joined from Christchurch Elementary School in July 1902.
His father, Charles, was listed as a retired draper in the 1911 census and the family lived at ‘Fairlight’, 6 Coventry Road, Ilford. His mother’s name was Charlotte and he had six siblings including two older brothers, Alfred and William. In the 1911 census, Harold is recorded as an 18 year old bank clerk. His sister, Florence was a shorthand typist. Alfred was a travelling salesman.
In the First World War, he joined the Royal Air Force on 10th December 1915, aged 23. His service number was 144180. Although he survived beyond the Armistice and married Grace Horton in September 1919, he was still included on the School Memorial. Perhaps this was because his death on 21st November 1919 was attributed to war-related wounds.
Research by Andrew Emeny, History Teacher at ICHS
Sources:
Ancestry.com
ICHS school records and magazines
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Note
Ilford County High School started life as the Park Higher Grade School in 1901 in Balfour Road, Ilford. It was renamed Ilford County High School (or initially County High School, Ilford) in the years after the school’s management was transferred from Ilford School Board to Essex Education Committee in 1904.