Harold Coward

Story:
Harold Coward was born in 1893 in Motcombe and baptised there on 12th November, 1893. He was the son of James Coward, a Farm Labourer, and Mary Jane Coward (née Miles). At the time of the 1911 Census he was single, working as a Factory Hand and living at 38 Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted in Shaftesbury as a Private in the 1/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 200168). It is possible that he served prior to that time in the territorial force as he had another Service Number, 1553, on the medal rolls. He served in Mesopotamia and was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He died in Mesopotamia on 24th Jul 1917 and was buried at Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Al-Russafa, Baghdad, Iraq (grave id. XII.A.3). He is remembered on the St. James' and Motcombe War Memorials and on the Roll of Honour in St. James' Church, Shaftesbury.

Harold's brothers Charles Edwin (b.1892) and Victor (b.1897) also served with the Dorsets in the war, but survived the conflict.