Lives of the First World War

Harold in uniform, with corporal stripes. On the reverse of the photo Harold wrote: With fond love to my dear Mother, from Harold. Much later he annotated it with: BETWEEN MAR. 1918 AND FEB. 1919

A certified copy of an entry of birth for Harold Reginald Jorden, showing birthdate of 16 March 1897. The copy was issued on 20 March 1911 to provide evidence that Harold was old enough to leave school and start work as a shop boy.

Certified Copy of an Entry of Death: the death occurred on 10 June 1979 at Halsey House, Cromer. The lower portion of the certificate image, showing cause of death (two medical conditions), has not been copied here for privacy reasons, but it does show the date of registration as 13 June 1979.

Harold Reginald Jorden in full kit, in front of a tent, with some comrades peeking out behind him

These pages of the paybook show: [page 2] Harold's enlistment details - 13th Batt, Royal Fusiliers, 3 Coy; No. 4614, Rank: Private; Date of Attestation: Sep 21st 1914; Age on Enlistment: 19 years [Harold has annotated this later to say ACTUALLY 17 YEARS]. [page 3] Rates of Pay are also shown - 1s, split between "Allotment or Compulsory Stoppage" of 5d [Harold has annotated MADE TO MOTHER], and "Net Daily Rate for Issue" of 7d (Seven pence) [Harold has annotated ALL FOR MYSELF - ONE BIG JOKE] The page bears his signature, and that of L. Bleaden "2nd C for O.C.Company". The place was Ludgershall.

These pages show the 11 cash payments made to Harold, beginning on 4 August 1915, up to 28 November 1915. Harold later annotated the opening date with: X THIS WAS WHEN WE WENT FRANCE. The £ and s at the head of the Amount column have been crossed through, and two of the payments show frs [presumably francs] so it appears that all of the payments were in French currency. All but two of the payments were for 5.00, the remaining two being for 10.00. On these two pages, the place of payment is shown, as follows: 4 Aug - Campagne; 15 Aug - S. Sylvestre; 24 Aug - Armentiere; 1 Sep - Grenas [?]; and subsequently from 16 Sep to 28 Nov at Hembrecamp [?], except for 17 Oct ac Pas-en-Artois. All of the payments were signed by one of the following officers: C C Anthony, P N Goodman, R Amberton, J Lammin, L Bleaden. At the foot of the page Harold has subsequently written: AFTE THIS PLACE NAMES WERE FORBIDDEN.

These pages show the 14 cash payments made to Harold, beginning on 5 December 1915, up to 23 April 1916. All of the payments were shown as being made In The Field. The third-from-bottom entry shows: Eight days leave granted April 11th – 26, 1916, and this is bracketed with the next line showing a payment In the Field on 10 April of 50.00. The £ and s at the head of the Amount column have been overwritten with Fr and C. Two of the payments were for 20.00, eight were for 10.00, two were for 5.00, and the remaining payment, on 23 April, was originally entered as 10.00 and then crossed through and altered to 5.00. All of the payments were signed by one of the following officers: R Amberton, L Bleaden, S Jerome, K G Lappin [?], G E O Blin.

These pages show the 6 cash payments made to Harold, beginning on 10 May 1916, up to 5 July 1916. All of the payments were shown as being made In The Field. The first five payments were for 10.00, the sixth was for 5.00. All of the payments were signed by one of two officers: L M Adler, and L Bleaden.

Handwritten on page 13 of Harold's paybook, his Will reads: In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my Mother, Mrs F. Jorden, 262 Millfields Rd, Clapton Park, London. Harold R. Jorden, Pte. G. 4614, 15th August 15, 13th Battn Royal Fusiliers

The last page and inside rear cover of Harold's paybook show that he was inoculated twice against Typhoid Fever in May 1915 (signed by L. Bleaden), and that he was also Vaccinated (reason unknown) on 20th July 1915 (initialled LB). The last page of the paybook also shows his mother Mrs F Jorden's address as 262 Millfield Road, Clapton Park NE.

A paper label, identifying "Pte Jordon H.R." of "13th Roy. Fus", Regimental no. 4614, when he was taken from hospital at "Etaples" to "Eng" on board the Hosptial Ship S.S. Brighton, for treatment to G.S.W. Abdomen [gun-shot wound], on 17 July 1916. Signed by G Clarke, Capt RAMC. // On the reverse of the label, Harold later wrote: JULY 1916, WE ALL HAD ONE OF LUGGAGE LABELS TIED ON (IN CASE WE GOT LOST OR WENT OVERBOARD)

Notes made by Harold listing dates of training, overseas service and hospital treatment from 1914 to 1917. // Summary: 21 Sep 1914 - 31 Jul 1915: Training in Blighty / 1 Aug 1915 - 18 Jul 1916: Active Service in France / 19 Jul - 8 Oct 1916: Hospital London / Oct 1916 - Jan 1917: Training again in Blighty / 2 Jan - 27 Apr 1917: Active Service again in France / 27 Apr - 7 Aug 1917: Hospital again in London / 18 Aug - 16 Sep 1917: Training in Ireland / 16 Sep - 12 Nov 1917: Hospital in Tipperary / 18 Nov - 2 Dec 1917: Training again in Blighty / 2 - 14 Dec 1917: Hospital again in Dover. // Additional annotation: 15 Nov '17 arrived at Dover

This is a composite of a slide of the x-ray taken of Harold's shoulder at Tipperary, with the wrapper in which it was later sent to him, and a note written by him about it. The note reads as follows: "This is a transparency taken from an X-Ray of my shoulder after it got mucked up a bit in France. You will notice several little black sports and marks. These are bits and pieces of a bullet the the "Jerrys" didnt want. They are still embedded in bone somewhere inside me. I have left the original wrapping on because it was sent to me after I'd left Tipperary - as fully recovered - and the D. Moore was a Cpl. in the R.A.M.C who did all the Xray work there."

Note written by Harold about shrapnel that caused his wounds, and photo of the items & bone pieces: "The odd bits and pieces in the match box - this again is the original container and wrapper - I believe you have seen before but just to enlighten you, the Round pellet is a shrapnel shot which was taken out of my tummy at St Georges, Hyde Pk Corner in 1916 - from 'The Somme' - The spiteful piece with the points on is the nose of a Jerry bullet which was taken out of my shouder blade at Finchley in 1917.- the little bits on the X Ray plate are a part of this - plus the pieces of discoloured bone. The white pieces of bone worked themselves out after I'd got back to Civvy St. The very small piece of iron was taken out of my face - just below the temple - at Dover not long before I wa demobbed. The rough piece of stuff was taken out of my tummy at Norwich, the first year here at Overstrand, I should have said in June as we came here in April. ... " [continued below]

Copy marriage certificate, issued on the day of the wedding of Harold Reginald Jorden (age 26) to Rosa Clayton (age 28). The wedding took place at Christ Church, New Catton, Norwich. Details as follows: Harold - Bachelor; Grocer; of All Souls' Parish, Clapton Park [London]; father was Charles Hayes Jorden, deceased // Rosa - Spinster; Clerk; of New Catton; father was George Clayton, Blacksmith.

This is a postcard-photo, taken by Simonnin, a photographer in Doullens, France [printed on the reverse] in a studio setting. It shows Harold Jorden, standing, in uniform, with cap with Royal Fusiliers' badge, and lance-corporal stripe. Another soldier from a different regiment is also in the photograph, seated. His identity is not known.

This is a postcard-photo, taken by J. Games, 64 Lower Clapton Rd, London N. [embossed on the lower right corner of the image] in a studio setting. It shows Harold Jorden, standing, in uniform, with cap with Royal Fusiliers' badge, and lance-corporal stripe.

a small card listing the recommended treatment programme for Harold's gun-shot wound to the shoulder, at Command Depot, Tipperary. The front of the card names him as [incorrect spelling] Jordan, H.R, with rank of Cpl [Corporal] in the Royal Fusiliers, Depot No. 6 Coy. His "Disability" is G.S.W Left Shoulder. Treatment includes Deep Breathing, Ann Exercises, L.P.T, and Baths: Needle + a week H+C. Harold was to attend for treatment daily at 11.30, for a period of 2 weeks. // The reverse of the card is stamped with the following dates: 23, 24, 28, 30, 31 VIII [August], and 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 IX [September] [19]17. Harold later annotated this in ball-point pen - AUGUST + SEPTEMBER 1917.

A pass issued to Cpl. H.R.Jorden, no.G.4614 of the 13th Royal Fusiliers, giving permission to leave his quarters permanently and proceed home. Issued at Dover. A printed instruction nevertheless required an immediate return to his unit in a General Mobilization was ordered. // Harold later annotated the pass in ball-point pen: THANK GOODNESS

Certificate stamped with date 8 March 1919, providing instructions and means of identity to receive Army pay for 28 days furlough following discharge. The certificate names Cpl. Harold R. Jorden, no.4614, Royal Fusiliers 5th Battalion, with address for pay as 41 Elderfield Rd, Capton N.E. Record Office is Ldn [London] Wall; Pay Office is Hounslow; Dispersal Unit and Place for rejoining in case of emergency is Crystal Palace. The certificat identifies the Theatre of War served in as Eastern, the Medical Category as B.2., and the year of birth as 1895, although Harold has later annotated this in ink to say "(x) That was for the Army.1897 is correct". // The certificate has three Postmaster's stamps showing that payments were made on 14, 21 and 29 March 1919, and another stamp showing that a Savings Bank Book was issued on 10 April 1919 at Lower Clapton

A photo taken by J.G. Whorwell, 7 Bench Street, Dover [imprinted on lower right corner] of the seven staff of the Garrison Messing Office, Dover on 11 November 1918 - the reverse annotated by Harold Jorden "TAKEN ON THAT NEVER FORGOTTEN DAY". The reverse also bears the signatures of the people in the photo: Reginald Salt, Harold Reginald Jorden, Raymond Scott Evans, G A Patrick French, Rosa Clayton, W.T.Brown and Raf-Beaune [presumably the small stuffed toy dog on her shoulder!] and Peggy Hunt.

The 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. The reverse of the Star is inscribed: G-4614, PTE H.R. JORDON [incorrect spelling], R.FUS // The edge of the other two medals (not visible in the photo) is inscribed: GS-4614, CPL. H.R. JORDEN. R.FUS

A long article in "The News" (possibly a trade paper), with photograph, marking Harold Jorden's retirement as manager of the Co-op Stores branch in Preston Road, Wembley. It describes his 51-year career with the Co-op, starting as a warehouse-boy in Homerton, through to various managerial positions. It also mentions his service during WWI, during which he received "three Blighty ones" (ie, injuries). Harold retired on his 65th birthday in 1965, and the article notes that he and his wife were due to move from their home in Northolt [Middlesex] to Norfolk shortly afterwards. It also mentions his son and daughter.

A one-page hand-written memoir about Harold's experience of enlisting, aged only 17, and then, after being wounded three times, being posted to the Garrison HQ at Dover, where he met his future wife, Rosa Clayton. The memoir is addressed to his daughter Sybil, son Ray, their spouses and children, and Harold suggests that they would not be reading it if it hadn't been for the war, his wounds, and his postings, which were all fundamental factors in leading him to meet Rosa. // On the reverse [not copied] he says: "So now with the forgoing fully digested I do hope you all feel lucky that things turned out as they did on July 14, 1923 [his wedding day], with love and the best of everthing to you all, Pop. - Dad - Gaga and Grandad."

This photo shows the headstone originally placed on the grave of Rosa (Clayton) Jorden when she died in 1965, with additional inscription for Harold Jorden after his death in 1979. The grave is in the St Martin's church cemetery at Overstrand, Norfolk, where Harold and Rosa lived at the time of her death. The stone was replaced in January 2018 by their granddaughters, as the original stone had eroded beyond repair [see separate image]

New headstone placed on the grave of Rosa & Harold Jorden at St Martin's Church cemetery, Overstrand, Norfolk, by their granddaughters in January 2018. The original stone, erected following Rosa's death in 1965, had eroded beyond repair, and cemetery rules no longer allowed the original open-book design to be used, so a flat stone in granite was chosen in its place. The original wording was retained with minor alterations.