Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Called up December 1916 but died of pneumonia at Herne Bay Military Hospital on 12/01/1917.
(Information from I Sainthouse, 15/02/2023)

Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Edward Girdlestone, an ironmongery shop keeper, born 1851 in Hoxne, Suffolk, and his wife Emma Wright Girdlestone (nee Hughes), born 1851 in Hanley, Staffs. Harry Hughes was a commercial clerk and was born in 1878 in Leicester, his siblings were, Mabel, a board school teacher, born 1881 and Hilda N., a commercial clerk, born 1884, both his siblings were, born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 43, Upper Conduit Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Harry was employed as a surveyor’s clerk and was residing in the family home at 38, Lyme Road, Leicester, together with his wife of six years, Edith Mary Girdlestone (nee Cawthorne), born 1879 in Leicester. Harry died of pneumonia. In January 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER SOLDIER’S FUNERAL” – CORPORATION OFFICIAL AND CHURCH ORGANIST. The funeral took place at Welford Road Cemetery this afternoon, of Sapper Harry H. Girdlestone of the Royal Engineers, whose widow resides at 38, Lyme Road, and who died at Herne Bay Military Hospital of Friday. The first part of the service was held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Melbourne Road, of which the deceased was organist up to the time of joining the colours, and the large congregation assembled there bore testimony to the esteem in which the deceased soldier was held by his fellow worshippers. The service was conducted by the pastor, the Rev. W. Leicester who alluded to the great loss the church had sustained in the death of their member, who was a man of high character, and the soul of honour. He gave his life for his country as truly as if he had laid it down on the battlefield, said the pastor, who expressed sympathy with the widow and relatives in the loss they had sustained. The deceased was formerly employed in the Borough Surveyor’s Department, two of the members of the staff, Messrs. Hickling and Kemp, acted as bearers, the other bearers, Messrs. Aldridge, Reuben Johnson, Aston and Maskell, being members of the church. Other members and officers of the church were present and floral tributes were sent from the church, the Borough Surveyor’s Department, and a number of friends. He died of pneumonia.