Born in 1876 at Buckhurst Hill, son of Edward (Gardener) and Mary Ann Shuttle. 1881: With his family at Gladstone Road, Buckhurst Hill. 1891: A Domestic Servant with his family at Myrtle Cottages Buckhurst Hill. In 1908 he married Eleanor Alice Green. 1911: A Postman living with his wife Eleanor at 11 Arthur Terrace Gladstone Road Buckhurst Hill. Their home was later 40 Gladstone Road.
It is likely that he had previous service in the Army, which could account for his absence from the 1901 Census and his rapid deployment to France on 25th November 1914. However this was just too late to qualify for the 1914 Star. He signed up at Stratford, initially allocated to the Border Regiment as Private 6409 before transferring to 2 Lincolnshire. During his service he would receive the Military Medal for Gallantry.
On 9th April 1918 the Germans launched an offensive in the Lys area. On 25th April 1918, 2 Lincolnshire were moved out of Scottish Camp at Ouderdom and into reserve positions at Dukebusch near Leper where they engaged in fighting from 25/29 April 1918 when the German offensive ceased. The Battalion was then withdrawn to a rest area.
Although the fighting here was not as intense as elsewhere, the casualty toll was still 22 ranks killed, 210 wounded, 9 gassed, and 52 missing. It is probable that Harry Shuttle was wounded at some stage during this deployment at the end of April 1918.
He Died of Wounds in a Military Hospital at Etaples, and is remembered on the Buckhurst Hill War Memorial.
X/R: Cpl. Harold Henry Shuttle. Able Seaman George Pike Shuttle. (Reported as Cousins).
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com