Trafford

Born on the 19th January 1882, the birth being registered during the March
quarter 1882 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref; 8a/183, the eldest son of
William John & Edith Amelia Saxon (nee Birch).

1891 Census - "Elmhurst", Bentinck Road, Altrincham.    Son - aged: 9 -
Scholar - born: Dunham Massey.   William J. Saxon - Married - aged: 40 -
occ: Solicitor - born: Northwich, Cheshire.   Also - Edith A. Saxon - Wife
- aged: 35 - born: Broughton, Lancashire.   Plus 5 siblings and 5 domestic
servants.

His father - William John Saxon died during the September quarter 1894 in
the Hastings R.D. - ref: 2b/23 - aged: 43.

1901 Census - No Trace.   His mother and siblings were residing at
Woodville Road, Dunham Massey.   

1911 Census - "Lyndhurst", Bentinck Road Altrincham.   Son - aged: 29 -
occ: Solicitor - born: Dunham Massey.   Head of household - Edith Amelia
Saxon - Widow - aged: 55 - born: Lower Broughton, Salford.   Plus 4 sisters
and 3 domestic servants.

He was captured on the 23rd March 1918 and held in the Rastatt PoW Camp,
later transferred to the Hesbcourt PoW Camp.

My thanks to the "Lives of the First World War 1914-1918" website for the
following information:-

Harold Saxon was a Solicitor, living with his Widowed Mother and four
unmarried Sisters when he was called up to serve his Country in 1915.He
first joined the Royal Fusiliers, attaining the rank of Corporal, then
joined the 9th Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment where, on the 26th July
1917, it was announced that as a 2nd. Lt., he was awarded The Military
Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At about this time he
was promoted to Captain and given command of 'C' Company. During the
actions on the 21st and 22nd March 1918, whilst facing the advancing German
Army, his position defending 'Trinket Redoubt' was overtaken and his
Company captured and taken Prisoner.   .On the 11th December 1918, at the
cessation of hostilities Capt. Saxon was repatriated.

References to him appear in the Altrincham Guardian:- 31st July 1917 -
Award of his Military Cross at Vimy Ridge.   His death was reported in the
17/11/1922 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.


I am grateful to local historian Ann Nosowska for allowing me to reproduce
the following extracts from an article she wrote about some of the burials
in St. Mary's P.C. Churchyard, Bowdon.

GGrave number 4051 can be found in the lower part of St Mary’s
churchyard. It is marked by a stone cross mounted upon a rusticated base.
Members of the Saxon family are commemorated on three sides of the stone.
The South face bears the following inscription:   "Also of his eldest son
Harold Saxon who passed away Nov 5th 1922 aged 40 years and buried at St.
Mary's on the 8th..  “Greater love hath no man than this. That a man lay
down his life for his friends.”.

We will never know what effect his war service and imprisonment had on
Harold but we may imagine that he returned home a broken man. He died, aged
40, on 5th November 1922 at “Lyndhurst” on Bentinck Road, Bowdon; his
death was registered by his younger brother Eric and the death certificate
merely recorded that he died from long standing pulmonary tuberculosis and
exhaustion. The notice of his death was published on 10th November 1922 in
the “Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser” It said simply “After a long
illness contracted during the war”. The Service Medal and Award Roll of
the Royal Sussex Regiment records that his medals were despatched to his
family on 20th December 1922. Beneath his name in the record was written in
red Died 5.11.22

Manchester Evening News Friday 27 July 1917 p3.   “An intimation has
reached Manchester that Lieutenant Harold Saxon of Lyndhurst, Bentinck
Road, Altrincham, has been awarded the Military Cross. Lieutenant Saxon is
a partner in the firm of Messrs. Sharratt and Saxon solicitor of Fountain
Street in the city and on the outbreak of war entered the ranks of a public
schools battalion. After serving at the front for some time he was granted
a commission and attached to the Royal Sussex Regiment.

See TNA - WO 372/17/181665.

NOT COMMEMORATED BY THE CWGC AS HE DIED OUTSIDE OF THEIR QUALIFICATION
PARAMETERS.