Henry was the cousin of my Great, Great, Grandfather.  The son of a Farm Labourer, he was born in Hemingford Grey in 1867.  He joined the Coldstream Guards in London on 4^th September 1888 when just short of 21 years old.  At elistment he was described as 5' 9" tall weighing 8 ¹/₂ stone with a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  The 1881 census gave Henry's occupation at the age of 14 as an Agricultural Labourer and prior to enlisting he had become a Gamekeeper.  It was probably in the course of his work that he had gained the 'two scars immediately above the nose' that were noted on his military papers as distinguishing features.

After serving with the Guards for 3 years he was discharged onto the reserve and returned to his civilian life no doubt never expecting to have to return to army life again. He remained in London and married Isabella Sophia Wilkins at Trinity Church Hampstead in July 1897 when he was 30 years old. Two years later the situation in South Africa resulted in Henry being re-called to army service under a special army service order. Returning to the Coldstream Guards he was posted to the 2n^d Battalion as a Private and embarked for South Africa, arriving on the 21^st October 1899.

The Guards were used as first line troops and Henry was involved in the Battles of Belmont, Modder River, Diamond Hill and Belfast. He was returned home in August 1901 when he was posted to the 3^rd Battalion for a few weeks before being finally discharged on the 31^st August 1901 having clocked up a total of exactly 13 years on active service or reserve since he had originally enlisted.  In return for his war service he was awarded a gratuity of £5 and the Queen's South African war medal with bars for Belmont, Modder River, Driefontien, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast and South Africa 1901. This medal has remained in the family.

Return to Victorian Soldiers page