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Harold Buck 270

Contributor: Pat Benatmane
Decade: 1910s

Harold was a Stoker 1st Class during the war. Born 25 Oct, 1892, he signed up when he was 24yr. At that time he was a Shell Inspector, so it's possible he had been working at Barnbow. On 3 April, 1917, when he enlisted and was sent to Plymouth for training, he was 5ft 8½ins (174cm) with a fresh complexion and brown hair and eyes. His first ship was HMS Vivid II, where he was in training till January 1918. Vivid II was effectively a small ship which never went to sea. It was used as an accounting base as well as a stokers' and engine room school. From Jan to May, 1918, Ernest was posted to HMS Apollo in Devonport, and then back to Vivid for training to Stoker 2nd Class. 28 May to Jan 1919 saw Ernest on HMS Resolution. This was a battleship launched at Jarrow on 14 Jan, 1915, and was part of the Grand Fleet, but saw no active service. Resolution was scrapped in 1948. On the Absent Voters' List for Leeds, compiled for the 1918 General Election, Ernest's home address is Jesmond terrace. By March 1919, Ernest was back at Vivid, from where he was demobbed. He was awarded the Victory and War medals. In 1922 he was sold to Leeds for a world record 1,000 pounds. Later in life, he ran the City Pub on Woodhouse Lane.

Heritage Number 400. Debut v Bradford Northern. Also guested for Leeds in 1916.

Seasons played 1912/13 to 1917, when he played only 1 game. Played at 2. Then 1919/20 season. 165 games. Includes 1918/19 War League. 37 appearances. 10 goals, 35 tries = 125 points.

Other Hunslet players who joined the Navy include: Irving Chapman, Joseph E Jones.

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