Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte | III. B. 7. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.136 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 41C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Military Cross | ||
Family :
Born at St Sampson's, Guernsey, son of William and Ellen Stranger, of Guernsey. Husband of Beatrice (Trixie) M. Stranger (née Maynard), of Midlanes, Andover, Hants. Brother of Frank and George Stranger, who is also recorded against this roll.Harry was educated at Oxenford School, Jersey then Borlase School, Marlow where he was school captain in 1909. He was also in the school cricket and football teams for 5 seasons and captained both sides for his last 3 years there. He won the batting prize for each of the three years that he was cricket captain scoring over 500 runs including two centuries in one season. He also won the Fives Cup.
After this he worked in a bank, but continued to play football for Marlow, Guernsey and Andover. He volunteered for service at the outbreak of war.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 1/Royal Guernsey Light Infantry |
1st (Service) Battalion Formed by the Militia in 1916 and named the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry. Moved to Bourne Park (Canterbury) in May 1917, under orders of 202nd Brigade in 67th Division. 27 September 1917 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre, then transferred to 86th Brigade in 29th Division. 27 April 1918 : left the Division and became GHQ Troops after sustaining heavy casualties in the Battle of the Lys. |
| Action : France & Flanders |
France & Flanders covers all the dates and corresponding locations which are outside the official battle nomenclature dates on the Western Front. Therefore the actions in which these men died could be considered 'normal' trench duty - the daily attrition losses which were an everyday fact of duty on the Western Front.
Detail :
WISDEN AND THE GREAT WAR - The Lives of Cricket's Fallen shows an account of George and Harry: "The two brothers were involved in the gallant attempt to hold the line in the Lys area of northern France, where Portuguese troops had given way against the weight of the German offensive. On April 11, 20 officers and 483 men went into action; three days later, just three officers and 55 others ranks remained. George was first reported missing, but later it became known from men who were taken prisoners, and from the German official reports, that he was killed in action."
"Harry was severely wounded on April 11 when George was killed, and he suffered further wounds and was gassed while at a casualty clearing station; he died in hospital in Calais where his wife, whom he had married the previous year, had been summoned. He was the first member of the RGLI to gain a medal, when he was awarded the MC for his action in holding a bridgehead at Cambrai in December 1917; it was gazetted posthumously. A third brother, Frank, serving with the Australian Infantry, was killed on March 22, 1918, aged 35 - all three dying within seven weeks of each other."
He was awarded the Military Cross the citation for which was; Lt. Harry Easterbrook Knollys Stranger, R. Guernsey L.I. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He held an important bridgehead during a period of strenuous fighting at close quarters. He collected and organised men of several units, and held the bridge successfully against all the enemy's efforts to break through. He set a splendid example of courage and determination." He died of wounds in May 1918.
He is commemorated on the Bailiwick War Memorial, St Peter Port, Guernsey and at St Sampson's Parish Memorial, Guernsey. He is further commemorated at the Andover War Memorial, Hampshire.
See also: BBC News which writes further about the three brothers.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | St Sampson's No. 2598 E.C. | Guernsey & Alderney |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
4th April 1916 | 2nd May 1916 | 28th July 1916 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley