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Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Harold Edgar Furnival was born in the 2nd quarter of 1898 in Broadwas, Worcestershire to Frederick and Anne Agnes Furnival (nee Price).
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived in The School house, Worcester Road, Broadwas. Frederick was working as a schoolmaster and Anne was a schoolmistress. The household further comprised of their children: assistant teacher Alice May, Frances E., Annie Isobel, Frederick William, Leonard Thomas and Alfred Edward.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived in Coldharbour, Surrey. Frederick and Anne were still was working as schoolteachers. The household further comprised of their children: school teacher Alice, Annie, Leonard, Harold and Alfred, also a boarder, private secretary, Frederic Bertram Venn. Ann stated that she had given birth to eight children. The house had six rooms.
Frederick Furnival died on 25th February 1916 at 64 Falkland Road in Dorking. “At an early age he took up the teaching position. His first mastership was at the British School, Marshfield, Gloucester, and his subsequent appointments included Chelton the Downs, Salop, 1891-96, Broadwas, Worcester, 1896-1906, and Coldharbour, Surrey, 1901-11. In all these appointments Mrs Furnival had been associated with her husband as schoolmistress. Their daughter is also assistant schoolmistress at Coldharbour, being organist of the Parish Church as well. Since 1912 Mr Furnival had been on the supply staff of the Surrey County Council, and in this capacity was connected for some time with St Martin’s National School. During his 5 years’ residence at Coldharbour he actively interested himself in the affairs of the parish, and acted as secretary of the Coronation festivities.” (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser)
Harold Furnival enlisted in Guildford, Surrey into the 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was a Private with Regimental number G/37620. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Dorking.
At the time of his death he was part of the 7th Battalion, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Harold Edgar Furnival was killed in an action on 23rd March 1918 in France. His body was never found.
He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France on Panels 14 and 15.
He received the British War and Victory medals.
Surrey and the War
Threefold Sacrifice
Among those who have been sadly stricken by the war is Mrs. Furnival, 64 Falkland Road, Dorking, who has lost one son killed in action, another wounded and in hospital, and a third missing, all in the space of less than two months. Her oldest son, Sergt. F. W. Furnival, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed on May 20th. He was hit on the head by a brick thrown up by the explosion of an enemy shell, and died within a few minutes. He joined up in May 1915, immediately he heard that the Germans had been bombing London, and sailed from New Zealand, where he had a teaching appointment, in the following October. He first proceeded to Egypt with his regiment, and arrived in France in April 1916. He was shortly expecting to come home to take up his well-earned commission. A comrade writes “There is no need of my telling you how much we all thought of Fred and how we shall miss his cheery presence. There is not one of us who is not the better for having known him, and proud to remember him
as his friend.” In a very sympathetic letter to the bereaved mother the Chaplain says: “His absolute devotion to duty cost him his life. He knew the shells would be coming thick and fast in a few minutes, and it was his anxiety to see that all his men got safely in that cost him his life… You can be proud of him. He was a clean straight manly boy, a son of whom any parent could be proud, and there was genuine sorrow among the headquarters men when they knew he had gone. I buried him next morning in a military cemetery in Hebuterne. He sleeps his last long sleep among the apple trees in an orchard, and all around him lie others of England’s sons who have given their lives during the course of this war. I know what his officers thought of him; he was one of the oldest and most trusted of the N.C.O’s, and his men had absolute faith in him. As a soldier he is a great loss to us. But our sense of loss cannot be compared to your and those of your home.”
Mrs. Furnival’s second son Signaller L. T. [Thompson], Royal Naval Division is in hospital at Rouen suffering from a severe wound in the right foot received on May 15th, and her youngest son Pte. H. E. Furnival, of the Queen’s has been reported missing since March 23rd.
Furnival Brothers © 15th July 1918 Dorking Advertiser findmypast.co.uk
Harold Edgar’s brother, Signaller Leonard Thomas Furnival, of the Royal Naval Division, was severely wounded in the right foot on 15th May 1918. Recovering, he re-joined his unit and died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen on 14th October 1918 in France.
His oldest brother, Sergeant Frederick William Furnival, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade was killed on 20th May 1918. He was hit on the head by a brick thrown up by the explosion of a huge enemy shell, and died within few minutes.
Anne Furnival received £2, 1s, 8d on the 5th of November 1918, £4, 14s, 4d on the 30th of December 1919 and a further 15s and 8d on the 17th of March 1920 in Soldiers’ Effects. She later lived at 65 Langham Road, Wimbledon, London and died on the 21st of December 1927 in Kent.
Furnival Family History
Harold’s father Frederick, was born about 1857 in Kingswinford, Staffordshire to mine agent William, born about 1820 in Llansaintfraid, Montgomeryshire, Wales and Sarah, born about 1832 in Ovenbridge, Shropshire. His mother Anne Agnes Price was born about 1859 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire to brick agent Thomas and housekeeper Martha Price, born about 1826 in Callaughton, Shropshire. Anne was baptised on the 21st of August 1859 in Much Wenlock. Frederic and Anne married on 18th September 1880 at St Martin’s church in Birmingham. At the time of their marriage the couple lived in Essex and Frederick was working as a schoolmaster.
Harold had seven siblings: Agnes E. born about 1882; Alice May born about 1884; Frances E. born about 1886; Annie Isobel born about 1888 and Frederick William born on the 4th of August 1890; all in Marshfield, Gloucestershire. Leonard Thomas born on the 25th of June 1896 and Alfred Edward born about 1901 in Broadwas, Worcestershire.
At the time of the 1881 Census, the couple lived in Maukin Lane, Marshfield, Gloucestershire. Frederick was working as a schoolmaster and Anne Agnes as a schoolmistress.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived in Main Street, Marshfield, Gloucestershire. Frederick and Anne were still working as teachers. The household further comprised of their children: Agnes, Alice, Frances, Annie and Frederick.
Photograph courtesy of Mary Hustings
In Loving Memory of Frederick Furnival who died Feb 25 1916 aged 59 years
Also of Anne Agnes his wife who died Dec 21 1927 aged 68 years
Also of Frederick, Leornard and Edgar, Sons of the above, Killed in France in 1918.
‘Until the day break’
| Born | Broadwater, Worcestershire | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | The late Frederick and Agnes Furnival of 65 Langham Road, London formerly of 64 Falkland Road, Dorking | |
| Enlisted | Guildford, Surrey | |
| Regiment | 7th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/37620 | |
| Former Regiment | 2nd Battalion, the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Date of Death | 23rd March 1918 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Memorial | Pozieres Memorial |
