During the course of her research, more names of WW1 soldiers who were either born, brought up or lived in Winterton were found. Sadly they never returned and for some unknown reason are not listed on the town’s war memorial.
Winterton Town Council owns the war memorial and at the April Town Council meeting, after almost 94 years since the memorial was unveiled, councillors looked at the submitted evidence and unanimously agreed to add the name of 241203 Private Harold Mumby of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Harold is not related to the editor, and this is his story...
Harold, the son of Frank and Hannah Sophia Mumby, was born on 17th March 1898 in Churchside, Winterton.
The 1901 census showed the family were living in a cottage in High Risby and by 1911 the family had moved to Idle Stop, Westwoodside, in the Isle of Axholme.
Harold’s service record has survived and states that he enlisted in Haxey on 20th June 1915 and joined the 5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. His parent’s address at the time was listed as Idle Stop, Westwoodside, but they later moved to Misson Springs, Bawtry.
Harold was aged 17 when he enlisted and couldn’t be sent overseas until aged 19 due to army regulations. He disembarked in Le Havre in northern France on 24th February 1917 and less than a month later was wounded in the right foot and sent to hospital in Rouen. He later returned to England.
His medical records show that he was in hospital in Aberdeen until April 1917 and returned to France in June. Harold was back in hospital again in Eastbourne from November 1917 to January 1918, and returned to France on 31st March 1918.
He was transferred to the 1st Battalion (C Company) on 4th April and received a gunshot wound on 19th April. Harold rejoined the 1st Battalion (C Company) and was killed in action on 25th August 1918. By then, his parents were living at ‘The Hut’, Austerfield, Bawtry.
Harold Mumby is buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont in northern France.
High Risby comes under Roxby parish and Harold’s name is not listed on the Roxby war memorial. A further search revealed that Harold is not listed on the war memorials for Haxey and Westwoodside, or Bawtry.
Estelle has now submitted a further 12 cases for councillors to consider the addition of names. If any of our readers have any information on names possibly missing from the war memorial who have links with Winterton, please do not hesitate to contact Out ‘n About. This also includes those who may have served in Palestine, World War 2, Korea and later conflicts. Any information given will be thoroughly researched. Post-WW1 service records are still held by the Ministry of Defence and are accessible to family members only.