Private 44172 Harold Britnor of the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, was born in 1889 at Stalybridge in Cheshire, the son of Charles E. Britnor JP and Hannah Britnor (nee Mellor).

The 1901 census finds him with his family at number 17, Grey Street in Stalybridge. Charles aged 42 was a cotton spinner who was born in the town, as indeed were the whole family. His wife Hannah was aged 43. Children recorded are Harold aged 12, Norman aged 10, and Stanley aged “0”. 

Still at number 17, Grey Street for the 1911 census, Charles is now an insurance agent; he and Hannah have been married for twenty three years and have produced three children, all still alive. Harold is a clerk in a cotton mill. Norman is a clerk in a fire-grate manufactory and Stanley is at school.

Two years later, in the first quarter of 1913 at Old St. George's Church in Ashton Under Lyne, Harold married Gertrude Prescott. The Register of Marriage records that Harold was a clerk residing at number 42, Wakefield Road, the son of Charles Britnor, an insurance clerk. Gertrude resided at number 52, Robinson Lane, Ashton Under Lyne, the daughter of George Prescott, a market gardener. The Service was conducted by Herbert Hampson.

The couple had one child, Stanley, who was born in 1914. Tragically, he was killed in a flying accident on the 19th of August 1940 whilst undergoing pilot training with 14 OTU (the Hampden he was flying crashed). He is buried with the rest of his crew at Cardington Cemetery.

Harold enlisted at Stalybridge into the Cheshire Regiment as Private 244629 before transferring to the Worcestershire Regiment.

His Medal Index Card reveals his entitlement to the War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was killed in action on the 24th of April 1918 and is buried in Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux where there are 960 Commonwealth Casualties - of which 256 are unidentified.

He is also remembered on the Dukinfield War Memorial in Stalybridge. The CWGC notes that he was the husband of Gertrude Britnor of 75, Market Street, Stalybridge.

The 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment was operational in the Somme Valley with the 8th Division and by the morning of the 24th of April, was in the front line at Villers-Bretonneux when the Germans launched a heavy attack backed up by a heavy artillery and gas barrage, backed up by a small number of tanks at 07:00 hrs. 

The German advance started well for them but at 10:00 hrs. the British and Australians commenced their counter attack, driving the Germans back; the battle continued until the 28th, during which time the battalion casualties had totalled 137, including 11 officers. The losses had fallen mainly on "C" and "D" Companies.

The Manchester Evening News for the 16th of May noted Harold as a casualty under the column heading and subheadings

 "The Casualties - Another Heavy List - Many Local Men Missing...” 

The paper also briefly noted that his father - Councillor C. E. Britnor of Stalybridge had:

 "...received intimation of the death of his son, who was a Signaller in the Worcestershire Regiment."

The paper continued by reporting that:

"Harold was the assistant and cashier at the Stalybridge Cotton Mill Ltd. and was a pre-eminent local cricketer and footballer."

In 1919, Gertrude was remarried to one Harry Monday.