THE short lives of Harlow residents, Robert Evelyn Stanford and William Hilton Stanford Poole as read by Alan Howick.

This project is supported by Harlow Council’s Civic Fund and HTS Ltd.

Never Forget.

Robert Evelyn Stanford and William Hilton Stanford Poole

Robert and William’s parents were William Sandford Poole, born in Sawbridgeworth in 18661 and Evelyn Annie Hylton Lynch, born in Jamaica in c. 1873. They married in Rugby in 18952 and Robert Evelyn Sandford Poole was born in Buckhurst Hill in July 1896 and baptised on 4 August 18963 in Lilbourne, Northampton4. William Hylton Sandford Poole was born in West Ham in the spring of 18985.

In the early 20th century the family moved to Campions, Harlow where two of their sisters were born in 1905 and 1908. Robert was enrolled in Pembroke College, Cambridge but on the outbreak of the war he joined the Public School’s Brigade instead.

Lieutenant Robert Evelyn Sandford Poole served in The 6th Battalion attached to The 13th Battalion of The King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Robert
served on the Western Front, fighting in the Battles of the Somme, Arras and Passchendaele. After six months home service he returned to France in October 1918. Robert was killed in action on 4 November 1918 aged 22 and is buried in Beaurain British Cemetery, France. Row B, grave 3. Register Index Number Fr.1480. Probate for the sum of £564 3s 4d was granted to Robert’s father on 7 May 1919. His address was given as Oakwood’s, Hayward’s Heath6.

Private William Hylton Sandford Poole, 7207, enlisted in The 13th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. William died of illness in the Bath War Hospital on 13 January 1917 aged 18 and is buried in Hayward’s Heath, St. Wilfred’s Churchyard in the north-east division of the churchyard. Register Index Number UK Sussex 181.