He enlisted in the H C B as a Private, the first time he is mentioned was on the 14/5/1915 - his exact date of joining is not known. He held the post of signaller in C Company.
At some later date he went to France and was posted to the Machine Gun Corps with the Army number of 43189 - he was finally disembodied on the 3-4-1919. Several other H C B men were also sent at this time into the M G C and had allocation of close 'block' numbers in that unit.
From a newspaper dated 20/10/1917 'Pte. Howard Hurl, M. G. C. , son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hurl , The Waites St. Ives, was sent back from France last Friday, suffering with a poisoned arm. He is in the military hospital at Edmonton.'
Howard was alive and living in Peterborough in the early 1950's.
From a local newspaper dated 1/9/1916 'Killed by a shell.' 'News has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hurl, of the Waites, St. Ives, that their son, Lance Corporal Walter Thomas Hurl, of the Beds. Regt., has been killed at the front. It appears that the enemy shell burst in the trench, killing the deceased and his companions.'
From a newspaper article, unknown source, dated 11/5/1915 = 'Five out of Six.' - 'Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hurl, The Waits, St. Ives, have five of their six sons serving with the colours, and the sixth - yet a youngster - is waiting patiently to follow in his brother's footsteps. The five serving are:- Sergt. W. M. Hurl - Hunts Cycles ; Sergt W. S. Hurl - Duke of Bedford's Light Infantry ; Private Albert Hurl - pay Corp. ; Pte. H. C. Hurl - Hunts Cycles ; Bugler Ernest Hurl, Duke of Bedford's Light Infantry.
Thanks to Mrs Wendy A Dighton - a relative for some background information on William and H. C. Hurl.
If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
09/04/2012