Horace Archdale

War Service

“Amongst the brave youth of Pontefract who have recently made the great sacrifice is Gunner Horace Archdale RFA, eldest son of Mr & Mrs John Archdale of Poplar Villas, Park Avenue, Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract; and he passed over to the great majority nobly doing his duty in France on August 29th in his 22nd year only. The deceased will be remembered by many persons through his connection with the “Maypole” at whose premises he was engaged from boyhood, and had made great advancement. Also by many friends and acquaintances he was highly esteemed. A particular friend of his was another Pontefract young man named Slater. They enlisted together two years and four months ago, and the deceased had been in France a year and four months when his career was suddenly cut short, and already he had been granted leave, and in the ordinary course would have been home for his birthday. As lately as August 26th the dear lad wrote home cheerfully, as he was going into action, saying how much he was anticipating the change in prospect. Then came the great change – which makes of little account all mortal expectations and contrivings. The parents – whose son Edgar (20), late of Ackton Hall Colliery, joined the RAMC when he was 17 – have the sympathy of many friends in their bereavement”.
Extract taken from the Pontefract & Castleford Express of 31.8.1917.
He is buried at Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery.

Klein-Vierstraat British Cemetery