Harry Houghton Wale MC was born on 2nd January 1912 in Lancaster, England.

His father was Albert Victor Wale (1877 – 1963), a clerk and steward at Lancaster Moor Hospital and mother was Helena Alice Wale (1885 – 1940), a teacher at Scotforth School, Lancaster.

Harry was listed in the 1921 Census as being at 6 Rossmoyne Road, Lancaster with his parents and younger sister Cecelia Mabel.

Harry was commissioned into the Royal Artillery (TA) as a Second Lieutenant on the 1st August 1931 with the 350th West Lancashire Battery of the 88th West Lancashire Field Brigade.

In April 1940, Harry married Dorothy Watkinson Sykes in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

It is not known when Harry joined the 111th Field Regiment, but he was with them from June 1942 when they shipped out from Scotland to Egypt via South Africa (pictured here in Durban).

Harry was awarded the Military Cross in 1943 for his actions during 8th Army’s advance across the desert; the commendation for which read as follows:

“This officer, as a Battery Commander, supporting armour during the period 6 March 1943, at Metameur, and again between 21 and 25 March 1943 when marching on El Hamma consistently displayed considerable boldness in the handling of his O.Ps and guns.

He always set a high example of coolness and initiative. On the 25 March 1943 Major Wale, together with all three of his Captains were wounded, but the spirit he had instilled in his Battery, by personal example, enable it to carry on with undiminished efficiency”.

Harry is not mentioned in the War Diary following this incident. Possibly being posted to an administrative role after being wounded.

Following the war, Harry moved to Gisborne, New Zealand where he worked in finance and was President of the Lions Club. He passed away on 13th October 2000, age 88.