Name
Henry French
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/11/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14240
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY
II. A. 14A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Our sweetest thoughts will ever linger round the spot where you are laid
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Henry was born around 1890 in Hitchin and baptised in the Holy Saviour Church, Hitchin on 19 December 1891. His parents were Harry and Sarah French.
In 1891 the family were living at 31 Florence Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Henry (28) and Sarah (23), with Henry working as a bricklayers labourer. Their children were: Sarah (2) and Henry (1).
By 1901 the family were living at 12 Telegraph Place,Hiitchin. Present were both parents and both children listed above. Henry (senior) and working as a bricklayer. Their children were those listed above plus Rose (8), Charles (6), Jack (4) and Kate (2).
In 1911 the family were still living at 12 Telegraph Place, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Henry (senior) still working as a bricklayer. The census recorded they had been married for 24 years with 11 children all living. Sarah and Henry were still present along with the other children listed above, although Henry seems to be calling himself Harry and working as a farm labourer. They had been joined by James (7), Lizzie (5), William and Herbert (both 3) and George at 3 months.
Officially henry was recorded as born in Hitchin, living and enlisting there.
Wartime Service
Henry was sent to France in July 1915 and fought at Loos and on the Somme where he was injured. He was in the 6th Battalion and his Regimental Number was 14240.
He was most probably injured on or about the 14th November 1916 at Mailly-Maillet near the Ancre River where the Battalion attacked Frankfort trench and the following day attacked Munich trench. There were several casualties at this time. He died of his wounds. His brother, Jack French, was in the same Company and saw the wounds inflicted. Jack was killed later in the war.
He was buried in Plot 2, Row A, Grave 14A in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.
Wimereaux is on the coast near Boulogne and he would have been moved there from the front. The stones in this Cemetery are laid flat probably due to subsidence in the area. A private inscription, ordered by his mother, Sarah French of 12 Telegraph Place, Hitchin, it reads "Our sweetest thoughts will ever linger round the spot where you are laid".
Additional Information
After his death £4 19s 11d was authorised to go to his mother, Sarah, on 3 March 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £9 10s 0d was authorised to be paid to her, on 8 October 1919.
There are two pension cards which list Henry and his brother Jack, who also died, with their mother Sarah listed at 12 Telegraph Place, Hitchin, as a claimant.
Another brother, Charles fought and was wounded in Mesopotamia, and a son-in-law went missing in February 1917, but was reported as a prisoner of war in Germany.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
