Lucas | Harold
Biography
Harold Lucas was killed in action on 16 October 1944 while serving as a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 14518628). He was 20 years of age. He was buried initially in the De Kleffen Cemetery at Overloon and later re-interred in grave I. A. 8. at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery at Overloon on 30 January 1946. The inscription on his grave reads “He lives for ever in our hearts the one we loved, unseen, unheard but near.”
Military Career
Harold Lucas enlisted in the General Service Corps on 21 January 1943. He stated that he was born on 16 August 1924 in West Hartlepool, County Durham. He gave his address as 66 Seaton Lane, West Hartlepool. He was described as being 6ft tall, weighed 143 lbs and had blue eyes and auburn hair. He was declared A1 medically fit. He had been working as a Slater’s Labourer. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He was initially posted to No. 55 Primary Training Wing. On 3 March 1943 he was posted to the Green Howards and sent to No. 5 Infantry Training Centre.
However, on 26 June 1943, he was transferred to the 7th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment. This battalion was part of 162 Infantry Brigade at that time. At some point he qualified as a Signaller.
He embarked for North West Europe on 8 July 1944 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment on 30 July 1944.
The 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment had taken part in the D-Day landings in June 1944 and lost many men as a consequence. A substantial number of reinforcements joined the Battalion in late July when it had returned across the Orne to Beuville, near Caen in France. This will have been when Harold joined them.
It then played a part in action to secure a road junction at Vire in mid August but played no further part in the Battle of Normandy. In September they were in Belgium and successfully crossed the Escaut canal as part of the ill-fated Market Garden operation, arriving in Gemert in Holland on 26 September where they received a tremendous welcome.
October saw the Battalion involved in some of the heaviest fighting since the end of June, amid continual rain and mud. It played its part in capturing Overloon on 12 to 15 October, suffering around 50 casualties.
On 16 October the battalion received fresh orders to attack Venray. However, the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment were held up at the Molenbeek – a stream in a deep and wide channel in full view of the enemy. They faced mortar and machine gun fire and were obstructed by extensive mines laid by the enemy. The 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment also suffered from heavy shelling and salvoes of Nebelwerfers. The East Yorkshires were unable to move forward until 1700 hours. One participant said “it was one of those cases of hanging about waiting with nothing to do under fire, when nerves get very strained”.
Three supporting tanks of the Coldstream Guards were bogged down at the Molenbeek – but by 1700 hours the 1stSuffolks had obtained a bridgehead allowing the 2nd East Yorks. to cross the stream. They still faced considerable sniping by the enemy as they moved forward and progress was slow as tracks were difficult to follow. They reached Brabander which is just north of Venray that night. This was the day on which Harold Lucas was killed. His Service Record states that he was brought it dead on 17 October 1944, but the circumstances were not known. It was then confirmed that he had been killed in action on 16 October.
The Battalion continued the attack on Venray the following day, capturing it by first light on 18 October, but with many more killed and wounded.
He had served for a total of 1 year and 270 days of which 100 days were in North West Europe. He was awarded medals as follows: 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star, War Medal 1939/45.
Family background
Harold Lucas was the son of John W Lucas and Florence G B Belsey who had married in Hartlepool in 1923.
John W Lucas was born in 1894 in the Stranton area of Hartlepool to George Lucas and Annie Lucas (nee Cockfield). George had been born in 1865/6 in West Hartlepool and Annie was born in 1868/9 in Greatham, Durham. They had six children as follows, all in Hartlepool: George 1892, Lillian 1893, John 13 October 1894, Stanley 1898, May 1899 and Hilda 1905. However, Hilda died in 1906.
In 1901 George and Annie were living at 16, Outram Street, West Hartlepool with their first five children. George was working as a Labourer in a Shipyard. By 1911 they were living at 17 Dundas Street, West Hartlepool. George was now working as a Caretaker at a Ship Yard. Only Lillian of their five surviving children had left home. George (Jnr) and John were both also working in a Ship Yard – George as an apprentice fitter and John as an apprentice blacksmith. They were at the same address in 1921. Only John and Stanley were still at home. George was now an Office Attendant at W Gray & Co Ship Builder. John was working for the same company as a General Labourer. Stanley was working as a Locomotive Fireman for the North Eastern Railway Company.
Florence Gertrude Scurr Belsey was the daughter of William Belsey and Mary Elizabeth Storm who had married in 1878 in Hartlepool. William was born in 1853/6 in Ramsgate in Kent while Mary was born in 1857/8 in West Hartlepool. They had children as follows: Mary Elizabeth 1879, William James 1882, Alfred 1885, Thomas Dobson 1886, Jane 1888, Florence Gertrude Scurr 5 July 1900. Mary and Florence were born in Hartlepool while the others were born in Middlesborough. However, Thomas died aged 11 mths in 1887.
In 1881 William and Mary were living at 41, Richard Street, Middlesbrough which was in Yorkshire at that time. With them was their first child. William was working as a Sailor. By 1891 they were at 51, Marsh Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. With them were William, Alfred and Jane. It isn’t known what had become of Mary. William was described as an Able Seaman. They couldn’t be found in 1901, but by 1911 Mary was living at 3 Regents Place West Hartlepool but William was not present. As he was a seaman he may have been at sea. Only Alfred and their youngest daughter, Florence, were present. Alfred was employed sawing timber. By June 1921, William and Mary were again together and living at 49, Thomas Street, West Hartlepool. Again, their only children who were present were Alfred and Florence. William was working as a Watchman at William Gray And Co., the Ship Builder, but was out of work. Mary was shown as a Shopkeeper running her own business. Alfred was a French Polisher, in Government Training. Florence was a Paper Worker – Sorter for Hartlepools Pulp and Paper Company. They had also taken in a Boarder, 22 year old Maud Buckley who was a Mineral Water Bottler for Camerons Brewery.
As stated above, John W Lucas married Florence G S Belsey on 4 August 1923. They had three children as follows: Harold 16 August 1924, Olga Lorraine 1926 and Marjorie 23 December 1930, all in Hartlepool.
In September 1939 John and Florence were living at 38 Hilda Street, Hartlepool. With them were Harold and Marjorie. John was still working as a Ship Yard Labourer. Harold was shown as seeking work at the Labour Centre. It was indicated that Marjorie later married someone named Clapham. It isn’t known where Olga was at this time.
Sadly, as we have seen, Harold was killed in action on 16 October 1944.
A news clipping from the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail of 30 October 1944 states the following:
“Killed in Action: Mr & Mrs J Lucas of 66 Seaton Lane, West Hartlepool have received word that their son. Pte. H Lucas (20), East Yorks., has been killed in action. Lucas who had been in the army for two and a half years attended Church Square School and was formerly employed by Messrs Atkinson, builders of Park Road.” This seems to have overstated his time in the Army. He had served for just under 2 years.
Another news item appeared in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail on 17 October 1946:
“In Memoriam – Roll of Honour
Lucas – In loving and everlasting remembrance of my dearly beloved son Harold who died of wounds Oct 17 1944. Interred Overloon Holland. Will always be remembered by his loving mam and sisters. In the garden of memories dear, we meet every day.”
The date of October 17 and the reference to him having died of wounds may be a consequence of the fact that he was brought in dead on 17 October, 1944 and later discovered to have been killed in action on the 16th.
Harold’s father, John W Lucas, had himself died in early 1946 in West Hartlepool, just over a year after his son.
His elder sister Olga married Daniel Goudie Laurenson in 1950 in Shetland and they went on to have two children. His younger sister Marjorie married David H Clapham in 1951 in West Hartlepool and they went to have one child.
His mother, Florence, visited his grave in Overloon at some point and her grandson has Harold’s medals. It is thought that Florence died in 1999.
Olga died in 1999 in Shetland and Marjorie in 2005 in Hartlepool.
