Henry Eric Harden
Lance-Corporal, Royal Army Medical Corps and attached to 45 Royal Marine Commando
- Register No.
- 527 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- Royal Army Medical Corps and attached to 45 Royal Marine Commando all Royal Army Medical Corps VCs →
- Date of action
- 23 January 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 8th March 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 23rd February, 1912 at Northfleet, Kent
- Died
- 23rd January, 1945 at Brachterbeek, Holland. (killed in
- Memorial / grave
- Nederweert War Cemetery, Holland and on a plaque on the bridge over Montforterbeek at Brachterbeek, Holland
Digest of citation
On 23rd January, 1945 at Brachterbeek, Holland, three Marines of the leading Section of a the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. He at once ran across the 100 yards of open ground, gave first aid and, carrying one Marine on his back, brought him to safety. Although slightly wounded, this NCO insisted on going out again with two stretcher-bearers to rescue the others. On the next journey the second wounded Marine was hit again and killed, but the rescue party returned to collect the third-man, and in doing so Lance-Corporal Harden was killed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HARDEN, Henry Eric. (reg No. 527).
Lance-Corporal. Royal Army Medical Corps and attached to 45 Royal Marine Commando.
Gazetted on 8th March 1945.
Born on 23rd February, 1912 at Northfleet, Kent.
Died on 23rd January, 1945 at Brachterbeek, Holland. (killed in action).
Memorials at Nederweert War Cemetery, Holland and on a plaque on the bridge over Montforterbeek at Brachterbeek, Holland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 23rd January, 1945 at Brachterbeek, Holland, three Marines of the leading Section of a the Royal Marine Commando Troop to which Lance-Corporal Harden was attached fell, wounded. He at once ran across the 100 yards of open ground, gave first aid and, carrying one Marine on his back, brought him to safety. Although slightly wounded, this NCO insisted on going out again with two stretcher-bearers to rescue the others. On the next journey the second wounded Marine was hit again and killed, but the rescue party returned to collect the third-man, and in doing so Lance-Corporal Harden was killed.
action).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Nederweert War Cemetery, Holland and on a plaque on the bridge over Montforterbeek at Brachterbeek, Holland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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