248384 Sgt. Harry Wild British Army 1/4th Btn. East Lancashire Regiment from:2 Bright Street, Padiham (d.12th April 1917) Harry Wild was a 29 year old Sergeant in the 4th East Lancashire Territorial Regiment when war broke out in 1914 and embarked with the regiment to Egypt. He was wounded during the Battle of Krithia Vineyard and evacuated to hospital in Egypt. After convalescing he was returned to UK and posted as Recruitment Sergeant in Padiham before being discharged from 1/4th E. Lancs in mid 1916.
He returned to life as a weaver in Padiham before re-enlisting in the 5th East Lancs in October 1916 retaining the rank of Sergeant.
The regiment went to France in November 1916 and was mobilised as a reserve unit for the Battles of Arras in April 1917. On 10th April the regiment moved from camp in Maroueil and entered line during that afternoon. In taking the German Effie trench later that day the regiment came under attack from artillery fire and lost an officer, 3 other ranks killed and 9 wounded. It is probable that Harry Wild was one of the wounded and he was evacuated to Aubigny-en-Artois Casualty Clearing station where he died of wounds on 12th April 1917.
He was survived by his wife Annie and son Fred, of Thomas Street, Burnley. Sgt Harry Wild is commemorated on the War
Mmemorial in the grounds of St. John's Church, Higham, where he had been a chorister before the war.
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