| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Henry Priestman was born in Thixendale in 1893, the second youngest of Henry and Ann Priestman's nine children. All of their children were born in Thixendale except for Charles, the youngest, who was born in Warter. Henry was originally from Leconfield and Ann from Wetwang. By the time of the 1911 census the family was living in Beverley, on Holmechurch Lane where their father was a fish fryer. The Priestmans are mentioned in both Thixendale School diaries and in the diary of Reverend William Henry Fox.
Henry enlisted in the 5th Battalion Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment (Beverley Terriers) on 12 Sep 1914. He was wounded in action, in his right leg and hand, during an attack on an enemy held crater on 9-10 Jul 1916 and is mentioned in the Battalion war diaries. In Aug 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal.
Henry married Elizabeth Baldwin in Beverley the 2 Nov 1918, shortly before he was discharged on 11 Dec 1918, with a Silver Badge for wounds received. At the time of his marriage Henry was a sergeant. Henry and Elizabeth had four children James, Phyllis, Verina and Robert. Henry died in 1951.
He was awarded the Military Medal, the Victory Medal, the British Medal, the 1915 Star, a Silver Badge and is listed on the Holmechurch Lane Roll of Honour.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |