Wounded a Second Time

Transcript

Wounded a Second Time

Corpl. Harold G. Hetherington, of Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, is again wounded, this time by a hand grenade. His right knee is battered, but no bones are broken. He is now at Edmonton Military Hospital, London, and hopes to get home for a short rest before returning to the Front. His views on the war are optimistic, and he is keen to see the finish. Corpl. Hetherington is one of the few men left of the famous Canadian Regiment. He was wounded some months ago, being shot through the shoulder. He got better of that, and went back to the trenches. Corpl. Hetherington, who is a well-known old member of the Eton Excelsior R.C., has had some exciting experiences and many hair-breadth escapes. On one occasion, he was in a trench with thirteen other men of his regiment, who were all killed on either side of him, he alone escaping.

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Curator's Notes

Harold George Hetherington was born in Eton on 29 April 1887 and lived at 42 High Street until at least 1911. His father, Howard J. Hetherington of Eton, was later recorded as his next of kin, while his brother Ernest Cooper Hetherington also served during the First World War. Harold had a strong connection with EERC, serving as one of its captains. At some point before the outbreak of war, he emigrated to Canada, although the date of his departure has yet to be established. By 1914 he was working there as a fruit grower.

In August 1914, Hetherington enlisted at Ottawa and served with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, regimental number 1245, attaining the rank of Corporal. He was accidentally wounded on 18 March 1915 and wounded again on 8 July, before being struck off the strength on 13 July. He was subsequently invalided in December 1915 owing to sickness or wounds. There is evidence that he later returned to military service with the British Expeditionary Force, possibly as a Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery, although this requires further verification. After the war he settled in Staffordshire and died in 1977 at The Stud Farm, Byrkley, near Burton-on-Trent.

Following Harold’s service in World War I, he climbed the ranks of the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) within the North Midlands. Having achieved the senior rank of Brevet Colonel and commanding local units (such as the 4th North Midland Brigade), he became an Honorary Colonel in 1938. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

His brother, Ernest Cooper Hetherington, initially served in 1914 as a private in the 28th County of London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles), eventually becoming a 2nd Lieutenant.

The Medal Inscriptions: The auction cataloguing shows Harold’s progression, noting that he is named as 1245 L Cpl H G Hetherington P.P.C.L.I on his 1914–15 Star, Capt H G Hetherington on his British War Medal and Victory Medal, and explicitly as Col H G Hetherington RA on his Defence Medal, War Medal, and 1935 Silver Jubilee Medal.

Curator's References

Harold George Hetherington on the Canadian Great War Project website [accessed 16 Sep 2026].

War Records of Harold George Hetherington [accessed 16 Sep 2026].

Lot 448: Medals of the Hetherington Brothers on the Mellors and Kirk website [accessed 16 Sep 2026]

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