Harry Dale was born in 1885, in Dore, the fourth son of Joseph and Ann Dale (nee Thorpe). The family was in Dore at the time of the 1891 census and were living at 142 Chorley Street (opposite the church) ten years later. Joseph was a stone mason by occupation and in 1901 Harry was working as a mason’s labourer. All his brothers had died by the time Harry was 10 so he was the only surviving child.

Harry married Annie Mawer at Christ Church Pitsmoor in March 1909. At that time, he gave his occupation as a mason, following in his father’s footsteps. The couple had three children by 1915: Leslie who died shortly after birth in 1909, Eric (born 1912) and Kathleen (born 1915). Annie Dale moved to Louth before Kathleen’s birth and it was her address at 13 Kidgate, Louth, that was given to the War Office for next of kin.

Harry enlisted in Sheffield and was in the Mechanical Transport Unit of the Royal Army Service Corps, but was attached to the 67th Siege Battery when he was killed in action in France on 2nd September 1916, aged 31.

He was buried in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery at Mametz in the Somme region. The grave inscription is “He gave his life that we might live”.

He is commemorated on the memorial at Fulwood.