Family Life

Harold was born on 22nd May 1893 to Charles and Sarah Florence Rose in Chipping Ongar, Essex. He was baptised in July of that year. He had a brother, George Creffield who was two years older than him. Three years after his birth the third son Herbert Victor was born.

His father Charles was the headmaster of the school in Chipping Ongar. In 1881 he was living at 167 High Street, with his first wife Mary, their young son Charles and a 14 year old servant called Mary Westwood. Charles’ wife Mary died in 1886 and by the time of the next census in 1891 he had been married to Sarah Florence for a year. The family was still living on the High Street. Sarah, at 23 years old, was 17 years younger than Charles, and was an assistant teacher. The eldest child Charles (13) from his marriage to Mary, was living with them, as were Margaret Pearce (21) and Amelia Howe (18), both assistant teachers. They had a general servant living in the house, Margaret Wright aged 12. By 1901 the eldest son Charles was no longer living with the family. The family was still living on the High Street in 1911 and had been joined in the house by John Roulon Creffield (60), brother in law to Charles and described as a butler, disengaged. George at 19 was a boy clerk employed by the Board of Trade and Harold, although still at school was said to be studying for the teaching profession. Harold attended the Kings Trust School where his father was the Headmaster, before moving up to Loughton Boys’ School. He then took up a position as a pupil teacher at Epping Boys’ School. Sarah Florence had taken a job as the superintendent sewing mistress. The house was described as having 7 rooms. These would only include the main living and sleeping areas.

By 1901 Charles Rose had been teaching at the school for 25 years and to mark the occasion he was presented with a handsome silver tea service and a purse containing over £13. There had been 276 subscribers to the gift. 8 years later he was given a silver mounted silk umbrella engraved with his initials and the date of presentation, and then two years later his service as a Sunday School teacher was rewarded with a clock in recognition of his position as superintendent for 32 years.

In 1911, the year before Harold left home to begin his training at Winchester, he took part in a performance of The Rivals’ with the Loughton School Dramatic Society with the object of raising funds for the new Forest Hospital. The hall was crowded and the audience much appreciated the performance.

Mesopotamia

Harold was not the only young man from Winchester Training College who enlisted with the 1/4th Hampshire (T.F.) Battalion. He would have known several other students, both from his time at College and some who had attended in previous years. One company of the Hants Regiment was already fighting in Mesopotamia when Harold arrived in the area. On his medal roll his date of disembarkation is given as 25th October 1915. Harold would have been amongst the reinforcements sent. By December 1915 the Expeditionary Force, which included A’ Company of the 1/4th Hants, were under pressure, besieged at Kut-al-Amara. Harold became part of the Relief Force with the remaining companies of his regiment. By the 4th January 1916 the Relief Force was on the move towards Kut. By the 7th January they had pushed the Turks back from Shaikh-Saad. On the 13th they were successful again at the Wadi, and the Turks withdrew to their next position at the Hanna Defile, pursued by the Relief Force. Between the 18th and 20th January the Relief Force manoeuvred their men, in thick mud underfoot, to get into position to attack the Turkish forces. The Turks were able in that time to strengthen their defensive positions. The enemy defences were a mile deep and protected on either side by marshland and the river Tigris. Heavy rain had made the marsh even more difficult to cross and the river level had risen, consequently the only approach left to the Relief Force was a frontal attack.

In addition to these disadvantages, there was a lack of reliable intelligence on the enemy position and sadly, despite all evidence to the contrary, the ability of the Turkish Army had yet again been underestimated. The initial attack was to be in daylight, following a short bombardment which failed to cut the barbed wire entanglements. The Relief Force advanced into a hail of enemy bullets. The 1/4th Hampshires were particularly invested in the success of the relief mission, as they were determined to get to Kut to release their Hants colleagues besieged there. There were 2,741 casualties at Hanna on the 21st January; the 1/4th Hants were particularly hard hit. 13 out of 16 officers and 275 out of 339 other ranks were casualties that day. Four of our alumni were killed, with another taken prisoner by the Turks. Although Harold is listed as killed in action his fate was unknown for some time. Captain Goddard wrote to the Principal of the College to tell him of their deaths. In the letter he refers to the action as Sheik Saad but we know that it was actually Hanna where they died.

Panel on the Basra Memorial showing H W Rose photograph from The Hampshire Regimental Museum

Harold is commemorated at Basra. The Ongar roll of honour still exists and is now located at the Essex Record Office.

Researcher and Author: Dee Sayers

Basra War Memorial photograph courtesy of the Royal Hampshire Regimental Museum