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29/04/1889 - 30/11/1917

Place of birth: Bromley, Kent
Last known address in Bromley: 5 Freelands Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Battalion/Ship: "C"Bty 93rd Army Bde
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Number: Unknown

Family information

Parents: Douglas & Margaret Lucy Payne (nee Morley)
Parents' occupation: Builder & contractor
Siblings: Elizabeth Margaret, Douglas, Maud, Morley, Kate, Beatrice, Lucy, Edith

Census information

1891
Address: 74 High Street
1901
Address: 74 High Street
1911
Address: 2 Nile Road, Gillingham
Occupation: Bank clerk

Extra details

Harold was the youngest of Douglas and Margaret Payne's nine children. He was educated at Quernmore School before joining Dulwich College in September 1903. After just under three years Harold left, in Spring 1906, to take up a position as a clerk with the London County and Westminster Bank. He was also a reservist in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles (East Kent Yeomanry) at this time. He was a great lover of animals and nature and possessed an exceptional knowledge of the field-paths of Kent and Surrey.

Harold was mobilized on 5th August 1914 but remained in England until his regiment was sent to Gallipoli on 23rd September 1915. After being evacuated from Gallipoli at the end of 1915 he went to Madras, then Egypt where he spent most of 1916, during this time he was promoted to Sergeant. In February 1917 he returned to England to take up a commission in the Royal Field Artillery. In October he was sent to the Western Front for the first time, attached to C Battery of the 93rd Army Brigade, and within a month had been mentioned in despatches.

On 30th November 1917 Harold's battery was being heavily shelled during an enemy counter attack when a shell exploded near him and he was hit in the head and abdomen. He died 15 minutes later.

Thank you to Dulwich College for their assistance.