| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Harry Harker was born at Burton Agnes in the summer of 1888 and baptised at St Martin's Church there on 5 August 1888. He was the second son of Harry Abraham Harker and his wife Harriet, nee Taylor. Harry had two brothers, Alfred and William and three sisters, Edith, Harriet (who died an infant) and Elizabeth. Their father was head gamekeeper to the Boynton family of Burton Agnes Hall. This followed a family tradition as both of Harry's grandfathers and one great grandfather were also gamekeepers.
Harry married Rose, the daughter of William Coupland, a miller and flour dealer of Ladygate, at St Mary's Church, Beverley on 26 May 1909. At the time of their wedding, Harry was employed as a motor driver. On census night, Sunday 2 April 1911, he was working as a domestic chauffeur and living in Brandesburton.
He joined the Royal Flying Corps as a fitter on 23 November 1916. Harry Harker, is named on the Muster Roll when the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to become the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. As Harry was not awarded the British War Medal or the Victory Medal it is most likely he was based in Britain for the duration of his service, as only those who served overseas were eligible for those medals. He transferred to the Royal Air Force Reserve on 2 April 1919 and returned to civilian life.
After the war Harry worked for United Automobile Services Limited at Bishop Auckland. This was a large organisation and the company's distinctive red buses operated regular routes all over the north of England, from Berwick upon Tweed to Filey and westwards as far as Carlisle.
Harry died suddenly on 17 June 1924 at Bishop Auckland. His body was brought home to Burton Agnes for burial in the churchyard. He was thirty-five years old. His widow, Mrs Rose Harker of Keldgate, Beverley, died in the East Riding General Hospital, Driffield on 27 January 1959. |