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Harold Gatley
20039, Private, 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 7 October 1916, aged 20
Buried at Essex Park Cemetery, Boezinge, Ypres, Belgium
CWGC registered (Son of Mr and Mrs Gatley, of Spring Grove, Clifton Rd, Llandudno)
THY WILL BE DONE
Harold Gatley, the son of Isaac James Gatley and Ann Jane Gatley (née Rawling) was born on 24 June 1896 at Llandudno. The 1901 Census for Wales records the family living at “Spring Grove”, Clifton Road, Llandudno; Isaac Gatley was a cab driver. In September 1903, Harold transferred from the Infant School to Lloyd Street School. Harold left school in February 1911 and later that year, the Census of Wales recorded Isaac as a cab proprietor and Harold (14) a draper’s errand boy. He later worked at the Orme Cycle Depot, Vaughan Street.
Harold Gatley volunteered to join the Royal Welch Fusiliers at the end of 1914. He enlisted at Llandudno and was given the regimental number 20039. He joined the 14th (Service) Battalion that had formed at Llandudno on 2 November 1914. The battalion moved to Winchester in August 1915 and disembarked at Le Havre on 2 December 1915.
Harold Gatley was killed in action on 7 October 1916 aged 20. The 14th RWF was part of the 38th (Welsh) Division that had received a severe mauling at the Battle of Mametz Wood in July 1916. On the day Harold was killed, the remnants of his battalion were engaged in drainage work on a canal in the Ypres sector in Belgium. He was buried at the nearby Essex Park Cemetery.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Mother’s headstone, Great Orme’s Head, Cemetery
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