Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Bexton a Farm Waggoner, born 1868 in Thrussington, Leics., and his wife Emily, born 1867 in Dunton Bassett, Leics. Harold was born on the 15th July 1895 in Dunton Bassett, Leics., he had one sibling, a brother Thomas, born 1894 in Dunton Bassett, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Dunton Bassett, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Dunton Bassett, All Saints. In April 1911 Harold was employed as a Farm Labourer and was residing in the family home at Ashby Parva, Leics., together with his parents. His brother Thomas also fell. Harold enlisted into the Royal Navy for a 12 year engagement on the 23rd March 1914 and was allocated the service number K/22163 in Portsmouth, Hants. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height, had a chest measurement of 37 inches, had dark brown hair and brown eyes, and his complexion was described as fresh, it was noted that there was a loss of the last joint, middle finger, left hand and that he had a small scar on the left side of his neck, he gave his trade or calling as railway porter. His record of service began when he joined HMS Victory II as a Stoker 2nd Class on the 23/3/14 – 2/8/14. HMS Good Hope, 3/8/14 – 1/11/14 when he lost his life at the Battle of Coronel off the Chilean coast.