Harry Walter Poole

Rank: Private

Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

Parents: Mr & Mrs H  Poole

Wife: Mrs Poole

Brother: Alfred Poole

Address: 4 Duke Road, Silverhill

Other Info: He was killed in action on 4th October 1914. His parents lived at 16 Battle Road, St Leonards. According to CWCG, Harry is remembered at La Ferte Sous Jouarre Memorial, on Panel 16a.

The letter mentioned, published in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer on 31st October 1914, forms part of an article that reads: “We regret that information has been received that Private H. W. Poole, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, has been killed in action. He is a member of an old Silverhill family, and his wife resides at 4, Duke Road. An expression of sorrow from the King, signed by Lord Kitchener, has been received by his wife and parents.

In a letter to his wife on the 30th September, Poole expressed satisfaction that his wife and all at home were keeping brave and having faith that he would again be home with them. He continued ‘There is one thing you can be certain of, if the worst comes to the worst. You can say that your husband was never a coward, because you know yourself that I need not have joined the Colours, having had a certificate from Dr. Richardson the day before mobilisation, but it becomes every British Solider to stand by Old England in the time of need, so once again I give you our motto of the Regiment I am pround to belong to: “Be Brave, Fear God, Honour the King”.

Harry is not listed on Hastings War memorial.

Published: October 1914

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