| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information
Robert Henry was born in Grafton, North Yorkshire in 1899, the son of Robert and Margaret Midgley (nee Ruddock). In 1911 the family lived in Gardham, Etton; Robert was at school and had 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
Robert enlisted with the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) although his medal roll, recording his entitlement to British and Victory medals, gives his service with 15/17th which was an amalgamation of 15th and 17th Leeds Service battalions that occurred in Dec 1917. The photograph in the Beverley Guardian in Feb 1919 states he was with 4th West Yorkshire
In Jun 1918 Robert’s Battalion was engaged at Le Thieushouk close to the Belgium border where he received an injury to his right arm. He was hospitalized at 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques in Northern France before being moved to Etaples and then to Rawdon, Leeds. He was transferred to the Reserves on 10 Mar 1919.
On 30 Dec 1921 farm labourer Robert, aged 22, married Edith Rachel Roebuck at All Saints Church, Etton and their first 3 children were all registered in Beverley. The family moved to Withernwick where three more children were born. Robert does not appear on the 1939 Register and the eldest son is elsewhere but Edith and six children are living at High Street, Withernwick. Robert and Edith remained in Withernwick until 1950. Robert died in Hull in 1969.
Includes information taken from photograph, census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |