Name
Harry Wombwell
19/11/1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/10/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
87337
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
10th (Stockbroker ) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOIS-DES-ANGLES BRITISH CEMETERY, CREVECOEUR-SUR-L'ESCAUT
I. C. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Church of St Mary the Virgin Cheshunt
Pre War
Harry Wombwell was born on 19th November 1885, in Langley, Essex, son of William Wombwell an Agricultural Worker and Ann Maria Wombwell (nee Sell). The youngest of eight children.
He was Baptised on 7th February 1886, at the Church of St John the Evangelist, Langley, Essex.
1891 Census records Harry, aged 5, at school, living with his parents, brothers Walter (28) Eleazar (11) and sister Belinda (14) in Upper Green, Langley, Essex.
About 1898 the family moved to 1 Hillside Cottages, Cheshunt, Herts, and Harry attended Dewhurst Endowed Boys School from June 1898, leaving in May 1899, to start work, aged 13.
1901 Census, Harry aged 15, was working as a Labourer at the Cement Works, living with his parents Sister Belinda (22) and Brother Eleazar (21), at 3 Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Herts.
His father William Wombwell died in February 1907, aged 71.
Harry married Edith Mary Groom of Bramfield, Herts the daughter of Henry and Emma Groom, in 1910, the marriage was registered in Edmonton, Middx. They had one daughter Violet Alice Wombwell born in April 1913.
1911 Census, Harry (26), is recorded as married to Edith, they have no children and are living at, 32 Albury Grove Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
His mother Ann Maria Wombwell died in February 1919, aged 78.
Wartime Service
Harry enlisted in Cheshunt, Herts, posted to the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and issued with the service number 87337. On completion of his training Harry was sent to the Western Front. He was Killed in Action on 8th October 1918, aged 33, at the Battle of the Hindenburg Line (Battle of the Hindenburg Line, 12th Sept – 12th Oct 1918).
He was initial buried in Bel-Aise Farm Cemetery, after the Armentis he was reburied in Bois-Des-Angles British Cemetery, Crevecoeur-Sur-L’Escaut, France. Grave Ref; I. C. 2.
Additional Information
Edith received a grant of £6, on 4th November 1918, and his effects of £2-16s-08d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
Edith remarried in late 1919, to Walter Pateman, the marriage was registered in Hertford.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
