PARDOE, Harry

Harry Pardoe was the son of John and Matilda Pardoe of 15 Stocking Street, Lye and attended Wollescote school. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and was later transferred, probably after return from injury, to the 2/6th Battalion of the Gloucesters in the 61st (Second South Midland) Division. They landed in France in May 1916 but suffered severely at Fromelles in July. They fought in the final stage of the Battle of the Somme and followed up the retirement of the German forces in 1917 to the Hindenburg Line. Their next fighting role was in the Third Battle of Ypres during the attack on Langemarck on the 16th August. Gains were made but casualties were heavy. Among them was Private Harry Pardoe who died of wounds in an Ypres Casualty Clearing Station. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Oxford Road Cemetery (I A 3) on the outskirts of Ypres and is commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote, Lye church and Wollescote school Memorials.