TOPLISS, Harry

Harry Topliss was the son of William and Harriet Topliss of 7 Field Lane, Oldswinford. He attended Oldswinford C of E School and joined the army, probably in 1905 when he was about 22. He had served his years as a regular in the Worcesters and was still in the Reserve in 1914. He was called up for immediate service and posted to the 2nd Battalion. By 1917 he had experienced all the main battles on the Western Front, including Loos in 1915 and the Somme in 1916. During the preparations for the Third Battle of Ypres the Worcesters moved in June to Ypres and took over the line at ‘Hell-fire Corner’ on the Menin Road. While moving back into reserve on the 5th July very severe shelling of their route caused 40 casualties to the battalion and Private Harry Topliss was fatally wounded. He was taken to the nearby Casualty Clearing Station at Belgian Battery Corner but died on the same day. He was 34 years of age and is buried in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery (1 D 14) next to Sergeant Walter Boxley. He is commemorated on the Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.