MAY, Harold Kidd

Lieutenant, Royal Berkshire Regiment
Died: 06/08/1934
Age: 36

Harold Kidd May was born on the 20th March 1898 in Holywood, Co. Down. He was the youngest son of George May, a merchant in cotton goods, and Isabel May (nee Greenfield).

Harold was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and in November 1914 passed his preliminary examinations for the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was employed by the accounting firm of Messrs. H. B. Brandon & Co. whose offices where in the Scottish Provident Buildings. He was a member of the Belfast University Contingent of the Officers' Training Corps and received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 26th August, 1915.

Although his Medal Index Card records he entered the war zone in 1917, he went to the front in April 1916 and was wounded the following June. He was officially reported missing on the 3rd July at the Battle of the Somme but was found to have come through unscathed a few days later.

In August 1916, Harold was promoted to Lieutenant and was wounded again – in the shoulder – in October.

He was wounded for the third time on 1st December 1917, more seriously, receiving gunshot wounds to both legs and was transferred to England for treatment at a hospital in Oxford.

In February 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross, the citation published in Supplement to the London Gazette of July recording:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a company in an attack. He moved about fearlessly under heavy machine gun fire, directing the advance. When the advance was held up he went forward to reconnoitre, and then directed his platoons to their objectives. He superintended the consolidation with great energy, and set his men a splendid example throughout."

He married his wife, Cicely A. Ray, in Oxford at the end of 1919 and relinquished his commission on 31st January 1920.

MAY – August 6, 1934, at his residence, "Merton," Osborne Drive, Bangor, Harold Kidd May, M.C., dearly-loved husband of Cecile May. Funeral private.

Belfast News Letter, 7th August 1934