Ashtead War Memorials - WWI - Rifleman Henry James Longhurst
2nd Bn, King's Royal Rifle Corps

The marriage of Henry’s parents, James Longhurst [born ca 1870, Ashtead], Labourer, and Louisa née Stapleton [birth registered Islington 3/1867], was registered at Epsom in 1891, followed by his birth 3/1892.

In 1901, the family, increased to include four children all of whom had been born in Ashtead, Surrey, was enumerated at 3 Montague Cottages, Skinners Lane. Soldiers who died in the Great War indicates that HJ Longhurst had moved away to Hammersmith but returned to Ashtead to enlist for WWI. At that time, his father was still resident on Skinners Lane but nearer to Barnett Wood Lane.

A Medal Index Card for “Harry” J Longhurst shows that he had been assigned to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and that he arrived in France on 11 March 1915 to qualify for a 1915 Star in addition to the Victory & British medals. The 2nd Battalion was part of 2nd Brigade, 1st Division so that he would have been pitched into the Battle of Aubers as described on http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-battle-of-aubers/

Having survived that engagement and the Battle of Festubert - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Festubert - up to 25 May 1915 there was only a brief respite before the Battle of Loos.

“The Loos offensive began on 25 September following a four-day artillery bombardment in which 250,000 shells were fired, and was called off in failure on 28 September. Presided over by Douglas Haig, the British committed six divisions to the attack. Haig was persuaded to launch the Loos offensive despite serious misgivings.”

Further details may be read at http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/loos.htm

Henry lost his life on the first day of the action for his name to be included on the Loos Memorial amongst 20,000 others who have no known graves.

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Dud_Corner_and_the_Loos_Memorial

Although inscribed on the Ashtead Memorial as a Private, in the KRRC he was a Rifleman.

text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact the editor
page added 27 Mar 2009: 28 Nov 17