Harold Samuel Griffin - King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 5th (Service) Battalion

Second Lieutenant Harold Samuel Griffin - King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 5^th (Service) Battalion

Early Life

Harold Samuel Griffin was born in 1890. He later married Margaret, of Mumbles, establishing his connection with the Swansea district.

Military Service

During the First World War, Harold was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 5^th (Service) Battalion. On 9^th April 1917, the battalion took part in the opening day of the Battle of Arras, advancing east of Arras behind a creeping artillery barrage at Zero Hour, 5:30 a.m. Their objectives were to break through heavily fortified German trench systems, overcome machine-gun strongpoints, and consolidate captured ground against counter-attack.

Although the initial assault achieved important gains, resistance was fierce. Deep trench systems, concrete emplacements, barbed wire, and well-positioned machine-gun posts caused significant casualties. German artillery responded quickly once the barrage lifted, subjecting advancing and consolidating troops to heavy shellfire. It was during this intense fighting on the first day of the Arras offensive that Second Lieutenant Harold Samuel Griffin was mortally wounded.

Death and Burial

Harold Samuel Griffin
Beaurains Road Cemetery, Beaurains,
Pas de Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Harold died of his wounds on 9^th April 1917. He is buried at Beaurains Road Cemetery, Beaurains, Pas de Calais, France, a cemetery closely associated with casualties from the opening stages of the Arras offensive