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Walter Harrington |
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No / Rank: 2/Lt
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In June 1917 Walter Harrington was attached to the 13th Battalion the Cheshire Regiment, this battalion formed part of the Second ANZAC Corps and was in action near Messines, following the successful assault and capture of the Messines Ridge (Battle of Messines 7-14 June 1917). Their sector of the front was subject to indiscriminate shelling, with some of the forward trenches being two feet deep in mud and water was impassable, all movement was therefore over the open. The defence of their section of trench was with: Nine Lewis guns, two on each flank covering the gaps. Three posts of an N.C.O. and six men each pushed out before dawn for observation and sniping purposes. With strong offensive patrols at night. The battalion diary for Thursday 21 June 1917 records; at 3 am an exchange of artillery fire took place all along the Divisional front. Several of the enemy were observed leaving their trenches evidently to hide in shell holes in rear. These were fired on by our snipers and Lewis guns who had been warned to take advantage of all opportunities afforded during the shoot. The enemy was extremely nervy and called down a barrage all along the line…………… For the remainder of the day the enemy shelled the sector indiscriminately. Two Officers patrols were organised. North patrol was to be led by 2nd Lieutenant Harrington and 2nd Lt Walsh made up of twenty men, with a covering party of Lewis gunners and bombers with the objective to capture the gun and kill or capture the team of an enemy machine gun located at map reference (u5b91). North patrol left our trenches at 12 m.n. and proceeded in the direction of the objective. Patrol reached within about 30 yards from the objective without being observed, when operations began on the right (time 12.30): we had been informed that this was commencing at 11.45 pm and had not been notified of the change of time. The enemy immediately opened fire all along the line and opened sweeping fire on “no man’s land” with machine guns………The patrol was observed and brought under intense fire. 2nd Lieutenant Harrington realising the impossibility of attaining his objective gave the order to withdraw, and he and 2nd Lt Walsh remained behind to ensure that all the patrol were on their way back. On reaching our lines the Sergeant of the patrol found that these two officers were missing and immediately sent out a search party. This party came in at dawn but failed to find any trace of them. As soon as it was daylight parties of two men at a time crawled forward over the route followed by the patrol and succeeded in bringing in the body of Lt Harrington who had been shot through the heart. No trace could be found of Lt Walsh* although patrols stayed out all day, and a large patrol made another thorough search after dusk. All men are of the opinion that the operation would have succeeded had not the activity on our right, at just the wrong time aroused the enemy’s vigilance. The battalion recorded 2nd Lieutenant Harrington as Killed in Action, 2nd Lt Walsh missing and six other ranks wounded on 21st June 1917. Lt Harrington is buried in the St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Messines, Belgium. * No trace was ever found of Lt Geoffrey Christian Lansdale Walsh (age 20), he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. The following obituary was published in the Weekly Argus of 7th 1917. To the people of Machen news of the death of Second-lieutenant Walter Harrington came as a great shock. Machen folk are justly proud of its soldier sons and few, if any, were more popular than this fine officer, who at the call of his motherland sacrificed fortune out in Rhodesia returned home to defend her honour, and has now made the supreme sacrifice. The deceased officer was the second son of Mr and Mrs Humphrey Harrington of Algoa House, Machen, to whom the sad news was conveyed by telegram on Tuesday morning from the Records Office as follows: “deeply regret to inform you that Second-lieutenant Walter Harrington 5th Welsh, attached to Cheshires, Killed in Action22/6/17. Army Council expresses their sympathy.” It will be seen that Friday last was that fatal day, and only that morning his parents received a letter from him. Lieutenant Harrington, who was in his 36th year, had crowded into his life a good deal of experience and travel. After leaving school he commenced his business career as a grocers apprentice with Mr Hughes of Watkins Stores, Commercial Road, Machen. Later he removed to Newport, and after being employed in a number of shops there, went to Rhodesia, South Africa, where he entered into a very successful business partnership. He served in the South African War, and remained in that country until 1915, when he returned to England to enlist. In the meantime his brother, T.J.Harrington (who had also come from South Africa and was serving with the Kings Rifles), sustained wounds of a most ghastly kind*. Part of his face was practically blown away, but had had a remarkable cure, though incapacitated from further service in the war. He was discharged and returned to his business in Rhodesia. After waiting to see how his brother progressed, the deceased enlisted in the Artists Rifles in January 1916. After studying for and passing the necessary examination, his was gazetted into the 5th Welsh, and went on active service in November last. His death caused a feeling of profound regret throughout the district as Lieut, Harrington was extremely well known and highly popular. To his parents the sincerest sympathy is extended. They have had more than the ordinary share of bereavements, having buried no fewer than eight children before. The loss of so gallant a son is a great blow to them. Walter Harrington’s battalion, the 5th Welsh, were serving in Palestine at this time. * Pte T.J. Harrington had been wounded in August 1915 whilst working to repair a sandbag wall in a frontline trench, four other members of the party were killed. 'Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for others.'Return to Top
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Son of Humphrey and Catherine
Harrington, Algoa House,
Machen. The family had previously owned the Royal Oak, Public
House, Machen.