Harold William Culham

A Fusilier with 9th Bn., Harold died on 9th of September 1943 at the age of 29. 

Harold was born at Carlton Colville on 22 March 1914, a son of William and Rose Culham. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Carlton Colville, on 26 April 1914, and his family lived at Sycamore Avenue, Oulton. In 1921 his family lived at 32 Sycamore Avenue, Oulton. 

On 4 September 1936 Harold married Ruby Winifred Culham at Saint Mark's Church, Oulton Broad. Harold was a milk roundsman living at 66 Sycamore Avenue and Ruby lived at Kingsmead, Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft. By 1939 they were living at Harwin, The Street, Carlton Colville, and Harold worked as a milk roundsman. 

Harold enlisted in the Army, service number 5778718. Initially he served with the Royal Norfolk Regiment and later he was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers and joined the 9th Battalion. 

On 9 September 1943 the 9th Battalion formed the first wave of troops that landed at Salerno as part of Operations Avalanche, the invasion of Italy. The landing craft carrying the Battalion landed at 3.35 a.m. The landing was largely unopposed, but D Company had to assault a position containing four machine-guns. By nightfall the Battalion had pushed inland to Battipaglia.  

Nine men of the Battalion, including Harold, were killed on 9 September and 25 wounded.