Bordycott, Harold - Lance Corporal

(No soldiers photo available)

5 Bomb Disposal Company,
Royal Engineers, 
Died October 1944
Age 30

Lance Corporal Harold Bordycott was engaged, together with German prisoners of war, in clearing a minefield in Normandy when one stepped on a mine, causing an explosion. There were several casualties and Harold was seriously injured. He died later in a field hospital.

Harold was the son of Harold and Ruth Bordycott and the husband of Anne. He was aged 30. They had a son, aged four. Harold attended St.John's, Stonefold, Church and School. He was a former Sunday School teacher. When he married he became a member of the congregation of St.Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He was employed at Walter Holland's bakery for some years, but he worked for Messrs. P. Drake, building contractors, before joining the Army in 1940. He played football for Haslingden Villa.Harold lies in Bayeux War Cemetery, France. The cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France. It contains 4,144 burials plus 505 war graves of other nationalities, the majority of which are German. Harold's grave is in Plot 2, Row F, Grave 5 

Simon C. Ennever said on 30th January 2017

Hi, One of those casualties you mention was my great uncle, Robert Alfred Cook of Greenwich, London. His service number is 14323731 and he is buried near to Harold. There were 3 other casualties in this explosion from Royal Engineers 5th Bomb Disposal that are also buried nearby. Harold and Annie's son, James, lives in Nevada and is an airline pilot. Many thanks for the bio, I'm trying to find out a little more about the people who died with my relative and this is very helpful.