Harry's Story.
The Clare’s originated from Warrington and had moved to Stockport in about 1900, taking up residence at 70 Grenville Street, Edgeley. The 1901 Census records that 37-year Joseph Clare was a joiner and was married to Eleanor. They had six children - John (then 18), Jane (15), Walter (10), Harry (7), Thomas (4) and Hannah (2).The family worshipped at St John's Methodist Church and Harry played for the Church's football team. When War was declared in August 1914, quite a number of local sportsmen started to drill at Stockport Cricket Club and subsequently enlisted into the army. Amongst them were Harry and three other members of the team - Stan Bradbury, Fred Fitchett, and Alec Graham. Stan would be the only one who came home.
When he was 79, Stan wrote an account of his time in the War, in memory of his three lost mates. A copy is now held by the Regimental Archives. Stan recounted that they were at the cricket ground one day when a Lieutenant Hayes of the 7th Manchesters arrived "and said, "I say you chaps, anyone of you want to join up?" No-one spoke for a few minutes. So, he went onto explain that the 7th was short of 60 men to make up the numbers to full complement (sic) and that they were shortly going to the Middle east for garrison duty. This sounded like a "Cook's" tour, so our wit Fred said, "Come on lads; let's join" so the four of us did." On 3 May, Harry and his mates left Egypt to go into action at Gallipoli, landing on the 7th. Less than a month later he was dead.
When he was 79, Stan wrote an account of his time in the War, in memory of his three lost mates. A copy is now held by the Regimental Archives. Stan recounted that they were at the cricket ground one day when a Lieutenant Hayes of the 7th Manchesters arrived "and said, "I say you chaps, anyone of you want to join up?" No-one spoke for a few minutes. So, he went onto explain that the 7th was short of 60 men to make up the numbers to full complement (sic) and that they were shortly going to the Middle east for garrison duty. This sounded like a "Cook's" tour, so our wit Fred said, "Come on lads; let's join" so the four of us did." On 3 May, Harry and his mates left Egypt to go into action at Gallipoli, landing on the 7th. Less than a month later he was dead.