Harold Percy Tavener

Rank 
Lieutenant
Regiment 
Essex Regiment
Date of death 
27 March 1917
Age of death 
30
Address 
Holmbury
Salway Hill
Woodford Green
Woodford
Essex
IG8 9HH
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Biography 

Born in 1887 at Buckhurst Hill, son of Walter (retired Builder) and Annie Tavener. 1911: A Bank Clerk living with his family at “Holmbury” Salway Hill, Woodford Green. During 1916 he married Agnes Mary Campbell, and they set up home at “Edenvale” Grove Hill, South Woodford.

He joined the Westminster Dragoons (2nd County of London Yeomanry) on 9th September 1914, but was Commissioned into the Essex Regiment on 3rd December 1914. The summer of 1915 saw him serving at Gallipoli and subsequently invalided home. He rejoined his regiment in June 1916, but was later Killed in Action during the First Battle of Gaza.

6 Essex were supporting 53 (Welsh) Division during the initial phase of the attack, but along with the other constituents of 161(Essex) Brigade, they were later tasked with capturing Green Hill. After heavy fighting they had secured the hill by late evening.

There followed some confusion and 53 Division withdrew; once this had occurred 6 Essex were ordered to follow suit, and so their gains were given up. This caused anger among the Battalion which had sustained a number of casualties.

“Bunny” Tavener is also remembered on the Roll of Honour at Wanstead Golf Club.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Woodford Times

Regimental History