Harry Bamford (footballer, born 1886)

Harold Walley Bamford (1886 – 26 November 1915) was an English professional footballer who played as a half-back for Southampton in the Southern League from 1908 to 1911, and later for Glossop in the Football League.

Football career
Bamford was born in Sculcoates in Yorkshire, but moved to Southampton when young. Employed as a pay clerk in Southampton Docks, he played his youth football for Bitterne Guild before joining Southampton in the 1908 close season.

Most of his time with the "Saints" was spent in the reserves whom he helped win the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1910. His first-team debut came on 9 January 1909, when he took the place of Bert Trueman at left-half for the Southern League match at Luton Town, which was lost 1–0. Bamford retained his place for two further matches, before John Robertson replaced him, although Bamford returned for two matches at the end of February. Bamford made two further appearances, in April 1910 and in April 1911.

Later career
In August 1912, Bamford reverted to amateur status, and joined Glossop of the Football League Second Division on amateur terms.

War service
Bamford enlisted in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry for WW1. The 1st Battalion were based at Tipperary in August 1914, as part of the 16th Battalion of the 6th Division. They mobilised for war a month later and landed at St. Nazaire, France on 10 September. Bamford was badly wounded during skirmishes at Proven in the Ypres salient in November 1915, and died of septicaemia in No. 1 Red Cross Hospital, at Le Touquet.

Bamford held the rank of Second Lieutenant and was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records show he was the son of Annie Bamford, of 5, Cliff Road, Itchen, Southampton, and the late Abraham Bamford. He is buried at Étaples Military Cemetery, near Le Touquet, in Plot 1, Row A, Grave 15. He is one of 10,770 Commonwealth soldiers interred in this military cemetery. His headstone reads: "Until the morning dawns and the shadows flee away."