Driver Horace Gwynn Harding, 810760, 'A' Battery, 232nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, died in the 61st Casualty Clearing Station in Flanders on September 15th, 1917, from the effects of a gas attack the previous day.

Driver Harding had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. That was presented to his mother Florence Annie, of 87 Saxon Road, by the Mayor of Luton, Councillor Charles Dillingham, in March 1918 at the Winter Assembly Hall in Luton.

At that event, Town Clerk William Smith said Gunner Harding was aged 22 on the date of his death. A single man, he had before enlistment on May 9th, 1915, been an assistant at the Wellington Street shop of Webdale & Sons for two years.

He said the gallant soldier was a signaller and in an attack accompanied the forward observing officer to keep the artillery informed of the progress of the advance, and where artillery fire was required to assist the attacking infantry. It was for this gallant conduct and for continuous good work under fire that his services were brought to the attention of the Divisional General Officer Commanding.

Born in Kempsey, near Worcester, Driver Harding underwent 15 months of training before being sent to France in September 1916. He had been slightly wounded on one occasion and escaped unhurt from earlier gas attacks. He was taken to hospital seriously ill following a gas attack on September 14th, 1917, and died the following day.

In May 1920 his mother and family members emigrated to New Zealand.