PRIVATE WILLIAM (TOPPER) HAREWELL
GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT
16TH JULY 1916 AGE 47
BURIED: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY, FRANCE
I've not seen a man's nickname included in the official records before but the War Grave Commission includes the name Topper, either in inverted commas or in brackets, with the rest of William Harewell's proper names.
Topper Harewell was 47 when in died - "in the prime of life", at the peak of his abilities. Miss A Lowe chose his inscription - and included her initials at the bottom of it, but there is no indication as to what her relationship was to him. However, whoever she was her blunt description of Harewell as having been "cut down" pays no lip service to him 'giving' or 'sacrificing' his life, the implication is rather that it was taken away. At 47 the chances are that Harewell was a volunteer, even if he had been a volunteer into the regular army many years previously as his age and his service with the 1st Battalion could suggest.
Harewell died of wounds in hospital at Boulogne on 16 July 1916. There is no record of when or where he was wounded.