Can anyone help identify a soldier? I picked up a WW1-period postcard a few years back. It is a souvenir of Brussels with a picture of the Manneken-Pis and a drunken man praying 'Good St Anthony, make him pee once some beer.' The postcard has a message on the back from L/Cpl Harold Hother (no. 145947) and says 'Dear Bob - Just thought of you when I saw this card think it would be a cheap way of getting beer. Kind regards Harold.' I have often wondered if this soldier made it through the war or if I could return it to his family. Any thoughts greatly appreciated or ideas to point me in the right direction. Thanks.
You may experience a problem tracing your man as the regimental no you give for him belonged according to the National Archives to Gunner Mark Smith of The Royal Field Artillery. However Hother is not a common surname and the National Archives only lists nine Hothers in receipt of campaign medals for WW1, and only two of them are Harolds. Well one actualy the other is a Harry but he is a corporal so he could be your man. They are: 1) Cpl. Harry Hother Regimental No. 25915 of The Royal Garrison Artillery. 2) Pte. Harold Hother Regimental Nos. 4/3480 & 201073 of The Royal Sussex Regiment. Sorry if this makes your job harder but the conflicting info comes from the National Archives direct.
Sad to report neither man made it through the war. Harry died 25th Sept 1915. He was with the 43rd Trench Mortar Battery of the RGA, and was the son of Thomas & Mary Hother of Farm House, Walberton, Sussex. He left behind a widow, Flore Alice Hother of 5, Arthur Street, Plumstead London. His Memorial is on the Menin Gate at Ypres. Harold died aged 21 on 26th March 1917 and was with the 4th Battalion of the RSR, and was the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Hother, of Bilsham, Yapton, Arundel, Sussex. He is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial. Given that both men came from Sussex and that Hother is not a common name they may very well be related. That may well be an avenue for you to explore further.
hello my matenal grandmothers name was hother and so when i visited my local church yesterday and happen upon 2 soldiers who died in the great war one named harry hother (royal garrison artillary) & harold hother (royal sussex reg. 4th battalion). i remembered seeing you message regarding harry hother. you mention the postcard refers to bob if my research is correct his youngest brother was called robert. sadley harry died 25th sept. 1915 in flanders. This part of the family orginate from villages around chichester w.sussexUOTE]Originally posted by skinnirib: Can anyone help identify a soldier? I picked up a WW1-period postcard a few years back. It is a souvenir of Brussels with a picture of the Manneken-Pis and a drunken man praying 'Good St Anthony, make him pee once some beer.' The postcard has a message on the back from L/Cpl Harold Hother (no. 145947) and says 'Dear Bob - Just thought of you when I saw this card think it would be a cheap way of getting beer. Kind regards Harold.' I have often wondered if this soldier made it through the war or if I could return it to his family. Any thoughts greatly appreciated or ideas to point me in the right direction. Thanks.[/QUOTE]
only me again, on further checking my family info harry was infact the younger brother of my great-grandfather thomas, unfortunatly i don't have any details of his wife and any possible children
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Originally posted by skinnirib: Can anyone help identify a soldier? I picked up a WW1-period postcard a few years back. It is a souvenir of Brussels with a picture of the Manneken-Pis and a drunken man praying 'Good St Anthony, make him pee once some beer.' The postcard has a message on the back from L/Cpl Harold Hother (no. 145947) and says 'Dear Bob - Just thought of you when I saw this card think it would be a cheap way of getting beer. Kind regards Harold.' I have often wondered if this soldier made it through the war or if I could return it to his family. Any thoughts greatly appreciated or ideas to point me in the right direction. Thanks.
me again after abit more research i can tell you that in fact harry and harold were brothers they were from a big family harry was in his early 30's when he died and harold was about 21.
quote:
Originally posted by skinnirib: Can anyone help identify a soldier? I picked up a WW1-period postcard a few years back. It is a souvenir of Brussels with a picture of the Manneken-Pis and a drunken man praying 'Good St Anthony, make him pee once some beer.' The postcard has a message on the back from L/Cpl Harold Hother (no. 145947) and says 'Dear Bob - Just thought of you when I saw this card think it would be a cheap way of getting beer. Kind regards Harold.' I have often wondered if this soldier made it through the war or if I could return it to his family. Any thoughts greatly appreciated or ideas to point me in the right direction. Thanks.
