Harry Timson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Father: John Timson, born in 1851 at Hinckley, Leicestershire, and working as a bricklayer's labourer before becoming a coal hewer. Mother: Annie M. Timson, born in 1851 at Duffield, Derbyshire. John Timson was widowed and remarried Ellen Timson who was born in 1862 at Kennington, London. Brother: John Edward, born in 1903 at Wilford, Nottingham. Sisters: Harriet, born in 1874 in Nottingham and Sarah, born in 1876 in Nottingham. Harry had three stepbrothers who also served in the war: Corporal H Brown RGA (Inchkeith); Gunner WJ Browen RGA (Inchkeith); Private AC Brown, MTASC BEF At the time of Harry's death his parents lived at 34 Briar Street, Meadows.
Following training Timson was drafted to France. The battalion was involved in the Battle of Loos on 13/10/1915. They advanced over No Man's Land to the Hohenzollern Redoubt, a strongly held German fortification. They suffered considerable casualties, but with some difficulty managed to hang on to 'Little Willie' trench. During the fighting Timon was killed in action by a German sniper. He was buried in Quarry Cemetery Vermelles (grave ref B.10).
Inscription on CWGC gravestone: 'Duty nobly done' Nottingham Evening Post ROH, Friday 29 October 1915: ‘Timson. Killed in action, October 14th, Pte H Timson, 1/7th Robin Hoods, aged 23 years, 34, Briar-street. His duties nobly done, his victories won. RIP. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother and father, sisters, and brothers’. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post ROH, Friday 29 October 1915: ‘Timson. Killed in action, October 14th, Pte H Timson 1/7th Robin Hoods. God does all things well. He died a noble death. Nellie and Leonard.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post ROH, Friday 29 October 1915: ‘Timson. Killed in action, October 14th, Pte H Timson, 1/7th Robin Hoods. Sleep on, dear brother, thy duties nobly done. Deeply mourned by his stepbrothers, Corpl H Brown RGA Inchkeith; Gunner WJ Browen RGA Inchkeith; Pte AC Brown, MTASC BEF.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 14 October 1916: ‘TImson. In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Harry Timson, 1/7th Robin Hoods, killed by a sniper at Hohenzollern Redoubt, October 14th, 1915, aged 23. His heart was true, his spirit brave, his resting place a hero’s grave. Also our dear mother, who passed away October 20th, 1900. Reunited. From sorrowing sisters and family (Mansfield).’.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 14 October 1916: ‘TImson. In loving memory of Private H Timson, 1/7th Robin Hoods, of 34 Briar-street, Meadows, who was killed by a German sniper while burying his comrade on October 14th, 1915. A noble death. Sorrowing mother, father, sisters, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
