Name
Henry Harry Irons
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/06/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/9809
Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment
11th Bn., attached Advanced Horse Transport Depot Army Service Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
LXVIII.E.1
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Rickmansworth memorial
Pre War
Henry was born in 1890 in Bromley, the son of Henry and Jane Eliza (nee West) Irons. His father was a Brickmaker born Norfolk, and his mother was born in Rickmansworth.
The family has not been traced in 1891 but in 1901 was living 1 Billett Road, Walthamstow, Henry and Jane having five children. On the 1911 census Henry junior, a Carman General, was living with his sister Edith, her husband Robert Shed, and their son Henry, at 66 Marian Road, Mitcham, Surrey.
When he died his parents were living 18 Railway Terrace, Ladywell, London.
Recorded as enlisting in Lewisham, London.
Wartime Service
When he died Henry was attached to the Advanced Horse Transport Depot Army Service Corps.
The Battalion was raised on the 5th of May 1915 by the Mayor of Lewisham and a local committee. As part of 122nd Brigade 41st Division they landed in France on the 3rd of May 1916 and concentrated between Hazel and Bailleul. The Battalion took part in many actions in 1916 and 1917 before moving to Italy with the Division in November 1917. They returned to France in March 1918 and on the 16th of that month the Battalion was disbanded near Doullens and Mondicourt, the troops being posted to different units.
Henry probably went to the Advanced Horse Transport Depot at Abbeville some 30 or so miles away. Henry died of wounds on 4th of June 1918 at 24 General Hospital at Etaples, about 35 miles from Abbeville. The circumstances are not known but the vast complex of hospitals at Etaples was bombed on the night of 31st May/1st June causing many casualties among both staff and patients. The St John's Ambulance Hospital was completely wrecked. Possibly Henry was in hospital for some reason and received further wounds from the bombing.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins
