Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Partridge, a hairdresser, born 1849 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Partridge, (nee Jennings) born 18th April 1855 in Northwich, Cheshire. Harold Cupiss was born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 in All Saint’s, Loughborough, his siblings were Gertrude Martin, born 1878, John Richard, born 1881, Annie Thompson, a cotton trade weaver, born 13th August 1883, Herbert Walter, an apprentice steam engine fitter, born 1886, Alice Victoria, a cotton trade weaver, born 1887 and Mary Kate, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Loughborough, also residing in the family home was William Luck, born 1901 in Loughborough who was an adopted child, in March 1901 the family home was at 123, Nottingham Road, Loughborough. In April 1911 Harold was employed as a steel works store keeper and was residing in the family home at 24, Glide Street, Loughborough, together with his father, an hairdresser, and his siblings, John, a farm labourer, Mary, an engineering trade wire winder and Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 1900 in Loughborough, also residing in the family home was Harold’s married sister Alice Brompton and her husband Arthur Brompton, a Midland Railway signalman, born 1886 in Boston, Lincolnshire and their son Charles Henry Brompton, born 1911 in Loughborough. Although Harold was officially recorded at birth with the second Christian name of Cupiss, he is always referred to with the spelling Cubiss, this was the maiden name of his maternal Grandmother Elizabeth Jennings.
Harold attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 3 years on the 15th August 1914 in Loughborough. He gave his place of birth as All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 21 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as -?-. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Mary Partridge of 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough, his brother Walter Partridge of 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough and his sister Gertrude Moore, as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighed -?- pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30 and 32 inches. His hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 14th August 1914 in Loughborough. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10050 on the 15/8/14. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/8/14. Forfeited 1 days pay for absence on the 22/7/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 49th Field Ambulance, in the field with N.Y.D.(not yet diagnosed), on the 8/6/16. Discharged to unit on the 13/6/16. Died of his wounds in the 32nd Casualty Clearing Station, France on the 4/5/17. A summary of his service records, Home Service, 15/8/14 – 28/7/15, 348 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 4/5/17, 1 year 277 days. Total service, 2 years and 260 days. Harold was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Harold’s mother Mary partridge on the 11th July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Thomas A. Biggs, Secretary, War Pensions Sub Committee, Town Hall, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Mary Partridge of 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough. Full blood brothers of soldier, Herbert Walter Partridge, age 33 of 89, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough. John Richard Partridge, age 38 of 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough. Full blood sisters of soldier, Gertrude Martin Moore, age 41 of Cock Hotel, Station Road, Northwich, Annie Thompson Wills, age 35 of 87, Fore Street, Chudleigh, Alice Victoria Brompton, age 32 of 115, Meadow Lane, Loughborough, Kate Mary Partridge, age 27 of 8, Ratcliffe Road, Loughborough. Harold’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 3 May-17 - Attack at FONTAINES-LES-CROISILLES. Narrative attached.
Action at FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES. The 6th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was ordered to act in support to the two assaulting Battalions, 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. It was decided to support each Battalion with two Companies, A and C on the right and B and D on the left, the boundary between them as in the case of the leading Battalion being ROTTON ROW. The chief duty assigned to B Company on the left was to take over from the 9th Battalion, consolidate and hold the defensive flank covering north and west of FONTAINE WOOD. Battalion HQ were established at N.36.c.3.4. those of the 8th Battalion being in the same place. Operations on right of ROTTON ROW. A wounded man of 8th Battalion having reported that his Battalion had reached the 1st objective A Company advanced at 5.20am and keeping in touch with the HINDENBURG LINE reached a deep trench at T.6.b.1.2. in which were two platoons of the 8th Battalion. This Company with the two platoons of the 8th Battalion advanced soon afterwards via the HINDENBURG LINE to a trench running from T.6.d.5.8. to U.1.b.1.7. On arrival in this latter trench connection was established with C Company on the left and DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY on right. C Company then worked across the open on the left of A and occupied the same trench with a platoon in advance at U.1.a.2.6. which was held up in shell holes by heavy machine gun fire. An attempt to bomb down BUSH TRENCH failed. The trench up to U.1.b.4.5. was consolidated and at dusk the advanced platoon fell back into it. A and C Companies held this position until relieved. Operations on the left of ROTTON ROW. The Officer Commanding B Company being killed and Officer Commanding D Company wounded it is difficult to obtain a reliable narrative of events more especially as on this flank there was considerable confusion owing to the withdrawal across the front of troops of the 18th Division. Companies were ordered to advance at 5.10am. B Company advanced to a position at about O.31.d.9.1. when they were held up by machine gun fire from flanks and from a trench about 200 yards in front of RIVER ROAD. They established posts at O.31.b.8.2., U.1.b.5.7. (in ROTTON ROW) U.1.b.5.5. with light gun. U.1.b.7.8. (in WOOD TRENCH) and V.1.a.9.2. These posts with the exception of the one in WOOD TRENCH were held until the Company was relieved.
The War Diary records: 4 May-17 - Battalion against N.35.a. 4.2. Moved at night to sunken road at T.22.a. 2.4. occupying support posts at T.22.d. 5.2., T.22.d. 0.4., T.22.c. 9.9., T.22.b. 2.5., T.16.c. 5.5.