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| Photograph from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honor. |
Harold Skinner was born in Wombwell on 10th April 1896. He lived there with his parent's John Green and Annice Skinner at 165 Barnsley Road. As a child Harold attended Barnsley Road Council School and was a member of the Church Lads' Brigade. After completing his education Harold went on to work at Cortonwood Colliery.
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Memorial to the fallen miners of Cortonwood Colliery
at Bramptom Bierlow, South Yorkshire. |
Harold enlisted at Sheffield on 16th November 1915 and began training at Seaford Camp, East Sussex. From July 1916 onward he served as a signaller and rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corp in France and Flanders. In March 1917, during action at Walincourt, Harold was hit by gun fire while transferring equipment from one dugout to another. It was later reported in the Barnsley Chronicle that he had had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. Despite this operation Harold's injuries were too severe. He succumbed to his wounds, dying on what would have been his 21st birthday in the base hospital at Carmiers. He was interred in
Etaples Military Cemetery the following day.
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| The headstone in Wombwell cemetery which commemorates Harold Skinner. |
Harold is remembered on the
grave of his parents which is located in Wombwell Cemetery. He is also commemorated on several local cenotaphs including the memorial to the miners of
Cortonwood Colliery who served in WW1 and on the
St. Mary's Church War Memorial atWombwell.
