WEAVER, Harry

Harry Weaver was a pre-war regular soldier from Cradley. He was probably recalled from the Reserve on the outbreak of war to join the 3rd Battalion in the British Expeditionary Force. With his battalion he took part in the Retreat from Mons and the Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 and then saved the Allies again when the enemy's October attack was made on Ypres. The Worcesters stayed in the area at Ploegsteert and on the souther end of Messines ridge at Spanbroek Mill. In the first of the Spring battles of 1915 at Neuve Chapelle the Worcesters provided a diversionary attack at Spanbroek Mill on the 12th March. But it was costly battle. Among those killed in action was Private Harry Weaver who is buried in Messines Ridge Cemetery (II F 36) and commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.