Harold Strachan Price was killed in action on this day in 1915
Harold Strachan Price was born in Godalming, Surrey in 1881, the son of Edward George Price, owner of the major forestry and paper company in Canada, and Henrietta Keane née Bethune.
In 1891, Harold, aged 9, lived at 1 Craven Hill, Hyde Park with his parents, his 5 siblings, a nurse, a cook, housemaid, a nursery maid and a kitchen maid.
Harold, like the sons of leading Canadian merchant families, was educated at Charterhouse from September 1895 to July 1900.
On leaving the school, he joined his father’s firm, Price & Pierce Ltd, as a timber agent. In 1901, he was living at Broadwater Mansion in Godalming, working for his older brother, Keith, as a timber merchant clerk. He later became a Lloyd’s underwriter.
On 24 February 1903, he enlisted as a private in the Artists Rifles, which drew its recruits from public schools and universities, proposed and seconded by existing members. At that time, the regiment served as the 6th Volunteer Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. Harold was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1906 and to Corporal the following year.
On the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908, the regiment was absorbed into the London Regiment as the 28th (Country of London) Battalion and Harold was returned to the rank of private under the new system. He attended annual camps with the battalion between 1908 and 1913.
The Artists Rifles was mobilised on 5 August 1914 and two months later Harold received promotion to Lance Corporal. He volunteered for overseas service, arriving with the battalion in France on 26 October. Because of its extraordinary membership, the battalion was established as an officer training unit in Bailleul and Harold received his commission as a Second Lieutenant on 23 April 1915. After a brief period on the General List of Officers he was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.
On 24 May 1915, he was in command of a platoon holding an advanced position just south of the Ypres-Roulers railway (positioned just forwards of ‘Railway Wood') under intense bombardment and gas on the first day of the ‘Battle of Bellewaerde'.
John Hamblin's account of members of the Lloyd's community who lost their lives in the First World War details what happened:
“After 5am communications with Brigade Headquarters were cut, and to make matters worse, the unit on the battalion’s left had vacated their trenches, leaving the Fusiliers’ flank dangerously exposed. As the German infantry advanced, small groups of Fusiliers fought on despite the fragmentation of the battalion.
“Harold Price was in command of a platoon in an advanced position to the south of the Ypres/Roulers railway. His position came under heavy artillery fire as well as attack from gas, on what was the opening of the German offensive at Bellewarde Ridge. The order was given to him for his platoon to retire but he and many of his men became casualties during their retreat.”
By the end of the day, the 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers mustered some 150 men from an original strength of 880 at the beginning of the attack. Harold Price was among those missing. His mother received the following telegram dated the 31st of May 1915:
"Deeply regret to inform you that Lieut. H.S. Price Royal Fusiliers is now reported missing believed killed. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."
On the 8th of June 1915 she received a further telegram:
"Regret to inform you that the late Lt H.S. Price previously reported missing believed killed now reported killed in action May 24th."
Harold’s body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate (Ypres Memorial).
Harold's brother, Lieutenant Edward John Price RN HM Submarine E15 Royal Navy, died from Spanish Flu on the 16th of October 1918 in a Turkish POW camp. The brothers are commemorated on a memorial, raised by their sister, Stretta Aimee, in the churchyard at Westwell in Oxfordshire.
2/Lt Harold Strachan Price, 3rd Bn. Royal Fusiliers