Private, London Scottish Regiment
Born: June 9th 1896
Died: November 1st 1914
Age at Death: 18
Killed in action, Wytschaete, November 1st 1914
Grave Reference: Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 54
Son of N.F. Duff of Purley.
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Stephen Yiduo Chen (Sc. 2011-2016).
Private Harley Norman Duff
Harley Duff was born in 1897 in Forest Hill, Kent. His parents were Norman and Alice Duff and he had two sisters. By 1911 the family appears to have moved to 5 Bryanston Road, Bournemouth. He was educated at Brighton College (School House) between 1912 and 1913. Following the outbreak of war in summer 1914 he enlisted in the London Scottish Regiment as a private, as a part of the rush to volunteer. He must have had some prior military training, possibly as part of the Brighton College OTC, because, he appears to have been sent into action very rapidly as part of the 1st battalion London Scottish.
Duff was killed on the 1st November 1914 during the First Battle of Ypres after only having served for three months. He has no marked grave but is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Panel 54.
Source: LEST WE FORGET PROJECT, Brighton College 2014/15