Albert Harold Gurd

Story:
Albert Harold Gurd was born in Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire, in July 1893 and baptised at St. John the Baptist Church on 6 Aug 1893 the son of Sidney Gurd, a Blacksmith, and Susan Gurd (nee Brown).  He lived most of his early life at Horse Hill Lane, Donhead St. Mary.  He had enlisted with the Territorial Unit of the Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1438).  He was soon promoted to Shoeing Smith with the rank of Corporal. He attended the usual annual camps until he was embodied on 4 Aug 1914.  He served in France and Flanders from 5 Jun 1916 to Mar 1918. During this time his unit became part of the 3rd Reserve Battalion of the Corps of Hussars (Service No. 320512).  He suffered from a very bad bout of Pneumonia in Jan 1918 and was hospitalized in Rouen, France, and later transferred to the 1st London Hospital, Camberwell, London, for further treatment.   He was finally discharged on 15 Apr 1919 being physically unfit for further service and awarded the Silver War Badge No. B319424 and granted a short term pension.  He was also later awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the Territorial Force War Medal.  He had married Harriet Jane Penny at the Parish Church, Tisbury, Wiltshire, on 6 Aug 1917.  The 1921 Census shows him living at Newtown, West Tisbury, Wiltshire, working as an Estate Blacksmith. In 1928 he had enlisted in the Territorial Unit of the Royal Tank Corps (Service No. 548123) with the rank of WOII. By the time of the 1939 Register he and his family had moved to Gas Cottages, Pythouse, Tisbury, Wiltshire, still working as a Blacksmith. He was obviously embodied into the army with the Royal Armoured Corps (which the Wiltshire Yeomanry had become part of). He was discharged in due course on 14 Mar 1943 having completed 15 years and 15 days service and eventually awarded the Africa Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal.  His death was recorded in Mere, Wiltshire, during 1955.  His brothers, Keble Sidney Gurd and Reginald Leslie Gurd, also served in the conflict.