| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Harry was born in Beverley on 8 Jan 1893. He was baptised at the Minster on 23 Nov 1894 along with many of his siblings. Harry was one of thirteen children born to George T Southwick (1854-1946) and his wife Jane Eliza Southwick (1863-1964), both born locally. George was a tanner’s labourer. Harry was brought up at Margaret’s Place on Wilbert Lane and later at 16 Eastgate. Like his brothers Samuel and David, Harry became a shopworker. He was employed as an assistant at Charles E Baggs’ grocers at 41 Toll Gavel. He was unmarried.
Little is known of Harry’s military career as his papers are missing. He did not arrive in France until at least 1916. The first of his army numbers (8963) suggests that he may have been a territorial with the 4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards). The 4th had gone to Belgium in 1915 so Harry may have elected to go at this time. He later became a private in the 10th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment and may have served on the Somme in 1916. The 10th -part of 62nd Brigade, 21st Division- then switched north to the Arras sector in France. Preparations for an attack on German lines began with a preliminary bombardment on the 4 Apr 1917. In unknown circumstances, Harry was killed on 3 Apr 3rd 1917 and he may have been involved in preparatory work like cutting wire in no-man’s land. The attack on the Scarpe began on 9 Apr 1917. His body was not recovered. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals. Harry is commemorated on the Hengate Memorial and on the East Riding Memorial in the Minster.
Four of Harry’s brothers served in the war, including David Southwick (WWI Lives 1211) and Samuel Southwick (245). Samuel was killed in action on 7 Sep 1916 on the Somme whilst serving with the York and Lancaster Regiment. |