Henry was born on 14th January 1891, in Newark, London to parents Henry William and Sarah. Henry was the youngest son, and aged 11 on the 1901 census, he, his parents, sisters and nephew (who was aged 3) were recorded at 45 Arthingworth Street, West Ham, London.
Henry joined the Navy before the outbreak of war - he signed up for a short service of 5 years plus 7 on reserve, leaving his civilian job as a meat porter. He was 5’4” tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion and began training as a Stoker 2nd Class on 7th October 1912 at HMS PEMBROKE II, leaving on 13th March 1913.
He joined his first and only ship, HMS VANGUARD on 14th March 1913, rising in rating to Stoker 1st Class on 24th July 1913. A few months before the Great War begun, Henry married Rose Harriet Williams, on the 5th April 1914 at St Mary’s in West Brompton, London, witnessed by his friend and crew mate William Enoch Bunn.
He spent 5 days in cells from 22nd July 1915 and was aboard during the Battle of Jutland, helping to provide the dreadnought with its power in the naval event.
On board during the quieter times, he was part of the Stokers Second Racing Whalers Crew team which won the Bellerophon and Erin Cups in 1916, along with his friend William Bunn.
Following his death his pension and Star, Victory and British war medals were claimed by his wife and son.
(#65 - 1/843)
Sources:
1901 England census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 - Free BMD
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 1118
London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p84/mry1/008
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Reference Number: p84/mry1/015
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 007 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
CWGC Register
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 001/0001/AAR-ABE
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0015
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 94
Peter Bunn