Harry Welstead was born on 4 September 1860 at Faccombe in Hampshire. He attended Cheltenham College and Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Leicestershire Regiment on 22 October 1881. He spent his whole career with the Regiment, retiring as a Major on 4 September 1908, having served in India, Aden, Nova Scotia, the West Indies and South Africa (Boer War). On retirement, he emigrated with his sister to Rock Creek, British Columbia, before volunteering for further service in 1914. He was promoted to Lt-Col. and placed in command of the 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers. It was whilst supervising the landing of his men at Suvla Bay on 7 August 1915 that he was shot and killed.

Robin Thomas