WAINWRIGHT, Harry

Harry Wainwright was the son of Mr and Mrs Wainwright of 13 Green Street, Stourbridge. He attended Hill St. Council School and then worked for Messrs Fiddian and Son of Brook Street. He volunteered for the Worcesters in 1915 and joined the 4th Battalion in the 29th Division. They had been involved in the 1916 battle of the Somme from the first day and had helped to gain the Transloy Ridges in October. They returned to the front line for the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and for its second phase which began on the 14th April. The German counter attack on this day at Monchy-le-Preux was so fierce that no gains were made. A second attack was made on the 23rd against the enemy trenches on nearby Infantry Hill starting at 4.45 a.m. The hill was taken within 30 minutes but, again, the German counter attack was so fierce that the Worcesters lost heavily in defending their gains. Only 2 officers and 64 men marched back to Arras of the 17 officers and 520 men who had left the day before. Among those who died was Private Harry Wainwright. He was posted as missing and his death was not confirmed for more than six months. He was 21 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras, Stourbridge, St. Thomas's church and Greenfields school Memorials.