Harold H Mornington

In memoriam

Royal Artillery

Casualty of the War Harold Mornington was the son of William Joseph Mornington and his wife Elizabeth Bassett. He was born in Walsall, England in 1917. Harold was the sibling of Leonard, William Thomas, Nellie and Dennis Mornington. At some point prior to 1924 the family hit hard times and three boys that I know of were sent to children's homes - Dennis, Leonard and Harold. Dennis died in a children's home in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England in 1924. In 1928 Leonard was sent to Canada by the Catholic Migration society in England and Harold came in 1932 under the care of the Dr. Barnardo's Homes. Children who came under the British Home Children scheme were usually indentured out to work in Canada. In 1919 William Thomas had enlisted in the Amy, South Staffs Regt, but was soon discharged for being under aged. William had given his age as eighteen when he was really only about fourteen years old. In 1929 he traveled to Canada on his own with the intention of becoming a farmer along with his brother Leonard. William would return to England in late 1933, soon married and raised a family. He passed away in 1965. A few months before William, Leonard (sent to Canada as a British Home Child) also returned to England. It was his intention to remain permanently in England. Harold returned to England in 1938 and enlisted in the army. On May 23 1941 Harold died while in service. At that time, the 7 Medium Regt of the Royal Artillery of which Harold belonged was engaged in the May 1941 Battle of Crete. It is likely Harold lost his life in this battle. Harold is memorialized on the Athen's Memorial which stands in the Phaleron War Cemetery. It commemorates nearly 3,000 members of the land forces of the Commonwealth who lost their lives during several campaigns including those lost in Crete in 1941. These men named on this memorial have no known grave. Reported in the Barnardo Magazine Ups and Downs: UPS & DOWNS The Magazine of the Canadian Branch of Dr. Barnardo's Homes The War Memorial Building, 538 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Ontario Vol. XLIII. DECEMBER, 1941 No. 1 MORNINGTON, Harold -- killed in action in the Middle East last May; had been gunner in Royal Artillery Commonwealth War Grave Commission record: Casualty Details Name: MORNINGTON, HAROLD Initials: H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Gunner Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery Unit Text: 7 Medium Regt. Age: 23 Date of Death: 23/05/1941 Service No: 886686 Additional information: Son of William Joseph and Elizabeth Mornington. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 2. Memorial: ATHENS MEMORIAL

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