Darwen, Harold - Private

(No soldier photo available)

6th. Bn.

Lincolnshire Regiment 

Died 8 March 1943

Age 20

The Battalion arrived in Algiers on 17 January 1943 and on 28 February they were placed to defend the village of Sedjenane, which lay in a gap in the hills on the main road from the southwest to Tunis. The village was not favourable for defence because the Germans held the surrounding hills. On 3 March German armoured cars and infantry attacked with 'skill and determination' and captured the village. After four days of heavy fighting, the Battalion was forced to retire and regroup until they were relieved by paratroops. During the battle the Battalion lost 21 men killed, 46 wounded and 98 missing. Pte. Harold Darwen lost his life in this most courageous of actions.

Harold was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J Darwen and the nephew of Mr. A Darwen. He was aged 20. He attended St.James' Church and School.

Harold's name is on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial, Tunisia. Medjez-el-Bab is 60 kilometres west of Tunis. The Memorial commemorates almost 2,000 servicemen who died in the area between 8 November 1942 and 13 May 1943 and have no known grave. Harold is named on Face 16.