WEBB Harold Algernon

Appears on the Army casualty list for Worcestershire.

Harold Webb is recorded as having died between the 28th May 1940 and the 2nd June 1940.

Harold Webb was born on 23rd July 1892 at Long Compton, Warwick.  He was the son of James Webb (farm bailiff) and his wife Maryanne (nee Leeke).  When Harold was 19 he moved to Hallow, Worcestershire where he met his future wife, Christine Duggan, who lived with her parents in Parkfield Lane.  The same year he joined the Territorial Army and in 1914 he was called up to serve as a Sergeant with the 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

Extract from ‘War Story, the 1/8th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment’ by Edward C. Corbett, Regimental Quartermaster Servant:
“Trenches became almost impassable, and it was dreary to go ‘over the top’ in the dark, for the ground was littered with the dead of the battle eight months before, and one trod on their crumbling remains, and all around, the great bold cannibal rats scampered and scurried.

The mud was almost waist deep in places, men would fall through the deep snow into hidden old trenches.  There was a 3 mile march through trenches knee deep in water, to take up a new post.  The snows came.  All night it raged on the sodden men, huge drifts formed with a biting wind.  Men prayed, they could bear it no longer.”

Shortly before Harold was due home leave, he was badly wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans.  According to an extract from the Edward Corbett’s book, Sergeant Webb refused to divulge any information even when threatened with a pistol.  He was apparently then kicked until he fainted with further torturous treatments all down the lines and further appalling treatment by the German doctors and nurses.

Fortunately for Harold, under conditions agreed between the major powers with regard to prisoners of war, he was repatriated with the assistance of the Swiss Red Cross to an internment camp in Murren, Switzerland.  Here they were treated well regardless of their nationality.  Harold’s mother had the privilege of travelling under the care of the Red Cross to Switzerland to visit him in the camp.  After the end of the war, Harold returned home to Hallow.  In 1920, when the Territorial Army was reformed in Worcester, he was an instructor on the permanent staff for some time.  He was later employed by Mann and Sons Ltd., Worcester.

In September 1922 Harold and Christine married at Hallow Church.  The couple had 2 children, Margaret Isobel born in 1924 and Peter Ralph born in 1927.  Harold played a prominent part in local affairs, being a member of the Hallow Parish Council and an active supporter of the British Legion.

In September 1939 at the age of 47, Harold was once again called up to serve his country. It is believed he was the only man in his battalion to serve at the start of both world wars. In January 1940 he was sent to France.  Just as he was due his first home leave, the Germans invaded the Low Countries.  On 15th May 1940 he was reported to have been taken to a field ambulance suffering from exhaustion and was not heard of again.

Additional information researched and transcribed by Joy Fulcher and Helen Holston.

A letter from the Reverend W.J. Reynolds, Hallow Vicarage dated 18th September 1950 can be found within war records held at Worcestershire Archives requesting that Harold Webb be added to the county roll of honour.

Harold Webb has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on the Dunkirk Memorial.