Maden, Harry - Private

(No soldier photo available)

5th. Bn. Border Regiment

Died 1 June 1940

Age 21

The 5th. Battalion, Border Regiment, landed at Le Havre, France, on 18 April 1940 and moved to Lille. On 10 May, the Germans invaded Belgium and France. The Battalion, together with the rest of the British Expeditionary Force then began a fighting withdrawal towards Dunkirk. In a confused situation, with very little information as to what was happening elsewhere, the Battalion fell back to Cysoing, where they spent three days under constant shell-fire. On 29 May they moved to the banks of the 'Canal des Chats' and dug in. After suffering many attacks from 'Stuka' dive-bombers, they were ordered to the beach at Dunkirk. Private Harry Maden was last seen, with a friend from Rawtenstall, wading in the sea in order to get into a rescue boat. He was at first reported as 'missing', but later his death was confirmed.

Harry was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Maden. He was aged 21. He attended St.Peter's Mission Church at Ewood Bridge, where he was in the choir.

Harry is buried in Warhem Communal Cemetery, France. The village of Warhem is 12 kilometres southeast of Dunkirk. The cemetery holds 90 1939-1945 War casualties, of which 30 are unidentified. Harry lies in Row A, Grave 9.

Harry Maden said on 24th November 2015:
MY NAME IS HARRY MADEN MY FATHER WAS RONALD AND HARRY WHO WAS KILLED IN FRANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN MY UNCLE I WAS NAMED AFTER HIM.