Henry (Harry) Tills

Born: 31 January 1892

Died: 25 September 1915

Rank and Regiment: Lance Corporal 10809 in the 5th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Resting Place: body unrecovered

Memorial: All Saints, Runhall War Memorial and Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium

Harry Tills was the son of Christmas and Louisa Tills of Hardingham.

He was baptised on 27 March 1892 at Hardingham, his date of birth being given as 31 January 1892 and his father’s occupation as Coachman. Other children of Christmas and Louisa Tills are baptised around this time, all of them at Hardingham:

• Elizabeth 7 October 1883;

• Percy 2 August 1885;

• Clara 3 April 1887;

• George 7 October 1888 (he died in 1910 and is buried in Hardingham churchyard);

• William 12 April 1891;

• Bertie 7 October 1894;

• Ethel May 16 September 1900.

Harry Tills was admitted to Hardingham School on 15th February 1897. He left on 1 May 1905 to go into Domestic Service.

The Hardingham War Memorial Register gives, in relation to William Tills:

He had several brothers serving who were born in this Parish but enlisted from elsewhere [it appears that Harry Tills enlisted in Oxford]. One wounded and missing was never heard of again [presumably this is Harry].

He was killed in action on 25 September 1915 (not, as some records suggest, 16 June). It would appear that his body was never found, for he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Prior to that, he had been wounded in combat on 9th July 1915 and was entitled to wear a “Wound Stripe” on his uniform.

He is also commemorated on the War Memorial of Runhall Church.

Letters of administration to his estate were granted on 21 October 1916 to his father Christmas Tills, fruit farm worker. His effects were given as £50. His address was given as Ivy House Runhall.

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium