Geoffrey Charles Harryman

Geoffrey at first served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He enlisted on 15th May 1915 and became a leading seaman in the Royal Naval Division with number Tyneside Z/4519. However, he was discharged from the Navy on 11th September 1915 in order to take up a temporary commission in the army where he became a second lieutenant and eventually lieutenant and served with the Manchester Regiment. He died from wounds on 8th August 1916 and is buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France Grave Reference: officers A 7.6.

Nottingham Evening Post, 11 August 1916: ‘Died of Wounds. Lieutenant G Harryman. Mr Harryman of Holly-road, Retford, yesterday received intimation from the War Office that his son Geofrey (sic) a lieutenant in the Manchesters, had died in hospital from wounds.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)The following article is taken from the 'In memoriam' section of the 'Retfordian' magazine which was an in house publication of the King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford :- Geoff Harryman had been in France only a fortnight when he received a shell wound in the thigh. At first there seemed to be an excellent chance of recovery, but bronchitis and other troubles set in, and although he made a brave struggle against the complications of the case, he died on August 6th. Ian Clark, who was in the next bed, arranged for a wreath in the name of the old school to be placed upon his coffin. Harryman first joined the Royal Naval Division and afterwards transferred to the Manchester's. He had a happy knack of making himself both loved and respected by all who knew him.