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Private Stanley George Harding
Description
TitlePrivate Stanley George HardingSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionStanley was born 26th October 1890 at Warrington, Lancashire, son of George and Ann Harding. Before enlisting he worked for some time in Dunsandel as a carpenter in the employ of Mr Hugh Brown and was a very popular lad throughout the district. He was 5ft 7¼in tall with fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.
Stan enlisted on 24th July 1916 and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 19th Reinforcements. He embarked on 15th November and arrived in England on 29th January 1917 and marched into Sling Camp the same day. During the voyage he had 4 days in hospital with influenza. He left for France on 1st March and marched into camp at Etaples on 3rd. He was marched out on 10th April to the Segregation camp near Etaples, a sort of quantine area to prevent the spread of diseases. He returned six weeks later on 26th May 1917. A few weeks later he joined the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 3rd June. He was accidentally injured playing leapfrog on 18th July, spraining his left ankle when he landed on uneven ground on a company physical exercise parade. He was admitted to a field ambulance for treatment and discharged on 29th July. As it was a company exercise he was not blamed for his injury as might have been the case if he was skylarking. He killed in action 12th October 1917 aged 27 during the disastrous action at Passchendaele. A court of enquiry was held on 15th November 1917 to establishe what had happened to him. One soldier told of how he saw Harding lying on the ground on the slope of Bellevue spur, that he was badly wounded in the lower abdomen and that was the last they saw of him. His body must have been found and identified for he is buried Poelcappelle British Cemetery, plot XXIX. E. 5. Stanley is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameStanley GeorgeLast NameHardingFamilySingleDate of Birth26 October 1890Place of BirthLancashireDate of Death12 October 1917Place of DeathPasschendaele, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
Stan enlisted on 24th July 1916 and was assigned to the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 19th Reinforcements. He embarked on 15th November and arrived in England on 29th January 1917 and marched into Sling Camp the same day. During the voyage he had 4 days in hospital with influenza. He left for France on 1st March and marched into camp at Etaples on 3rd. He was marched out on 10th April to the Segregation camp near Etaples, a sort of quantine area to prevent the spread of diseases. He returned six weeks later on 26th May 1917. A few weeks later he joined the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in the field on 3rd June. He was accidentally injured playing leapfrog on 18th July, spraining his left ankle when he landed on uneven ground on a company physical exercise parade. He was admitted to a field ambulance for treatment and discharged on 29th July. As it was a company exercise he was not blamed for his injury as might have been the case if he was skylarking. He killed in action 12th October 1917 aged 27 during the disastrous action at Passchendaele. A court of enquiry was held on 15th November 1917 to establishe what had happened to him. One soldier told of how he saw Harding lying on the ground on the slope of Bellevue spur, that he was badly wounded in the lower abdomen and that was the last they saw of him. His body must have been found and identified for he is buried Poelcappelle British Cemetery, plot XXIX. E. 5. Stanley is remembered on the Dunsandel War Memorial.
First NameStanley GeorgeLast NameHardingFamilySingleDate of Birth26 October 1890Place of BirthLancashireDate of Death12 October 1917Place of DeathPasschendaele, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageDunsandel War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryPoelcappelle British CemeteryDunsandel War Memorial Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details24th July 1916Service Number31498Embarkation15th November 1916Reinforcement19th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton Taken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private Stanley George Harding. Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/332