Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for this research.
Clive Scotland Harding was born on 25th March 1888 in Chittagong, Bengal in India to an Indian Civil Service employee; district judge, Francis Henry, and Helena Mary (nee Scotland).
Clive’s father, Francis, was born on 20th June 1851 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex in England to a surgeon, John Fosse Harding and Susan Harding. The family lived at Mylne Street in Clerkenwell. Francis’ first wife was called Katherine Eliza. The couple married on 13th July 1874. Katherine was born on 13th July 1853 and died on 19th May 1880, at the age of 26. Katherine was buried on 20th May 1880 in Arrah, Bengal. She died of ‘puerperil (puerperal) convulsion’. The couple had three children: Edith Frances born on 3rd April 1875, Maud Katherine born on 8th July 1876 and Frank Lawrence born on 18th May 1880.
Francis married his second wife, Clive’s mother, Helena Mary Scotland on 10th October 1883 in Roorkee, Bengal. Helena was born on 28th July 1862 in Roorkee, India and baptised on 3rd October 1887 at the age of 25 at Chittagong, Bengal. Helena’s parents were called Eleanor Rebecca and William Scotland.
Clive had a sister Hilda Lisette who was born on 27th February 1885 at Gospel Oak in Middlesex.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family resided at Somerset Lodge, the Avenue, in Twickenham. Francis was working in the Bengal Civil Service, as a judge. Together with him lived in the house his children from the previous marriage: Edith, Maud and Frank. The family employed a cook and a housemaid.
Francis Harrison retired from the Indian Civil Service on 12th June in 1900.
At the time of the 1901 Census, Clive resided at the Alleyne’s Grammar School, Oulton Cross, Stone in Staffordshire. He was a boarder there and also nephew of the school headmaster William Joseph Harding.
By the time of the 1911 Census, Clive lived with his family at Woodcote, Coldharbour Lane in Dorking, Surrey. At the house also resided Clive’s half sister Edith; his blood sister Hilda; and nephew Douglas William Scotland working as an assistant of the agriculturist department. Clive was working as a solicitor’s clerk. The family had a cook and housemaid. The house had 14 rooms.
After Alleyne’s Grammar School, Clive was educated at Charterhouse. He then served his solicitors articles at the Messrs. Hart. Scales & Hodges in Dorking. At the outbreak of the war he was a fully qualified solicitor in the office of Messrs. Stow, Preston & Lyttelton at 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London.
When the war broke out Clive enlisted into Kitchener’s Army and immediately entered the Officers Training Corps, after which he was appointed a second Lieutenant of the 11th Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment. He received his Lieutenancy within a month. At the time of his enrolment Clive lived at Woodcote in Dorking.
In early May 1915 men from the regiment received orders, while stationed at Dartmouth for training, to prepare for service in a hot climate. Shortly after they were sent to Egypt, where after a brief stay in Alexandria, they were sent to the Gallipoli Peninsula, where they were attached to the 2nd Hampshire Regiment.
On 6th August 1915 in Gallipoli, Clive’s regiment was ordered with the 4th Worcester’s and the 1st Essex, “to make a bayonet charge against the Turkish trenches, which run forward at an angle, and were about 50 yards distant on the left, and 150 yards or more on the right”. Clive together with four other officers the ‘five Surrey heroes’ died at the head of their men, together with twelve other officers and hundreds of their men, under a deadly fire from about 30 machine-guns”.
Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander in Chief stated in a letter to Clive’s mother: “Whilst making my enquiries I was struck by the consensus of opinion as to the charming disposition and bold soldierly temperament of your son”.
Lieut. C. S. Harding
Those who knew Lieut. Harding in Dorking will not be suprised to hear that information received proves him to have died right nobly. Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander-in-Chief, in a letter written to his mother in reply to one of enquiry from her, added the following autograph P. S:- “Whilst making my enquiries I was struck by the consensus of opinion as to the charming disposition and bold soldierly temperament of your son.” His orderly, Private Tongs, writes: “The last I saw of Mr. Harding he was urging his men on for the assault.”
It should have been mentioned that after Captain Day, in command of the Company, had been shot down shortly after leaving the British trench, Lieut Harding took over command.
Private Pridham writes “Lieut. Harding led his men, being about 20 yards in front of them. He had his revolver in one hand, and suddenly pitched over. I cannot say whether he fell wounded or exhausted”. Private Fielder “He was leading his men, and turned round to wave his hand and call on the men to follow him, when he was shot by more than one bullet in the back. He was a splendid officer”. Colour-Sergt Major Williamson writes “You will have this consolation at any rate – that Mr. Harding was a fine soldier and was liked and respected by the men of Z Company.” Brigadier-Gen Cayley writes: “I had noticed your son while he was with the Hampshires, and he had struck me as being a particularly promising officer. But like so many more he has been called upon to give his life for his country.”
It may interest Mr. Harding’s numerous friends to know that after he enlisted his parents found a letter from the Head Clerk of his office in London, thanking him for the excellent influence which he had exerted in the office during his employment there.
Clive Scotland Harding Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Clive is commemorated at the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Canakkale in Turkey on panel 117. He is also commemorated at the Charterhouse School Memorial Chapel, the Dorking South Street Memorial and the St Martin’s Church Memorial in Dorking.
Clive Scotland left £598, 8s and 6d to his father Francis Henry in the Probate.
He was awarded the British War and Victory medals and the 1915 Star.
By 1920 Clive’s father Francis Henry made an application for his son’s medals. At this time the family resided at ‘Kirkstall’ in Dorking.
Francis died on 24th November 1926 and was buried on 27th November at Dorking Cemetery.
In his will of 24th January 1927 Francis left £16,525.13.0 of gross value of estate and £16,302.14.0 of net value of personal estate to his wife Helena and to his brother, retired schoolmaster William Joseph Harrison of Lyme, Regis in Dorset.
| Born | Chittagong, Bengal | |
| Son of | Francis Henry and Helena Mary Harding of Kirkstall, Dorking | |
| Regiment | 11th East Surrey Regiment attached 11th Hampshire Regiment | |
| Date of Death | 6th August 1915 | |
| Place of Death | Gallipoli | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 27 | |
| Memorial | Helles Memorial, Turkey |
