Name
Harry Shepherd(*1)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
358702
Royal Engineers
8th Forway Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
III. B. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Harry (sometimes Henry) was born in 1879 in Hitchin and christened on 11 Jun 1879 In St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin. His parents were Edward and Harriett Shepherd.
In 1881 the family were living at Skimpot (looks like!), Walsworth Hitchin. Present were both parents: Edward (45) working as s farm labourer and Harriett (32) working as a straw plaiter. Their only child was Harry (1).
In 1891 the family were living at 4? St Andrews Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with Edward now working as a general labourer. Harry and now been joined by a brother (9).
By 1901 the family were living at 1 Crown Yard, Hitchin. Both parents were present, Edward, event at 65 was working as a farm labourer. Harry was recorded as Henry and a Their children coal carter and his brother, George a farm labourer.
Harry married in 1904 to Mary, but we have not established whether she was Mary Aldridge or Mary Jane Wilsher. William was born in 1908, and Albert Athur was born in 1910.
By 1911 Harry and Mary were living at 8 Barnards Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Harry (32) and Mary (31), Harry a fellmongers labourer at a skin yard. The census recorded they had been married for 6 years with 3 children, of whom 1 had died. Later in 1914 another brother, George Norris was born.
Harry was employed at Russell's Tanyard in Hitchin before joining up in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Harry entered France on 1 October 1915, but his military history is confusing; his medal roll index card records list his service as Pte. 18636 in the Bedford Regt., 358702 Royal Engineers, 48487 Middx. Regt., 28739 Norfolk Regt.; SDITGW record him formerly in G/48487 Norfolk Regt. (No. 8 Foreway Coy., R.E.) and FindMyPast transcribed records suggest the order was 18636 Bedford Regt., Pte. 1914 Corps: 48487 29th. Middx. Regt., 1915 corps: 28739 5th. Norfolk Regt. – not confirmed by his medal card - 1916 corps 358702 Royal Engineers.
During the later time that he was assisting in the construction of a light railway in France, a shell fell among the men, killing some and mortally wounding Harry.
He was buried in Plot 3, Row B, Grave 14 in the Chocques Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
PHOTOGRAPH: The photograph of two men shows Pioneer H Shepherd and Private Frederick Maylin. The newspaper mentions them in that order suggesting the H Shepherd in on the left. We know that F Maylin was of slight build also leads us to believe that is the case and Harry is the man on the left.
After his death £7 2s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow and sole legatee, Mary, on 16 October 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 7 November 1919.
His pension cards are also confusing one, probably the later card gives Mary Shepherd – the widow of Harry, living at 14 Widmore Road, Hitchin. Another correctly lists Harry and Mary’s children as William (b 4/11/1908), Albert Athur (b 8/11/1910) and George Norris (b 2/9/1914), however this lists Robert Shepherd as the deceased – but changed to Harry, and the widow as Florence of 8 Barnard’s Yard, Queens Street, Hitchin, but changed to 14 Widmore Road, Hitchin. To try and resolve this further work was done and another pension card found which records Florence Shepherd living at 8 Barnard’s Yard, Queens Street, Hitchin, as the widow of Pte. 358702 Robert Shepherd RE. Robert has not been identified in the CWGC or SDITGW records. It seems that the pension records have serious errors. What we can be sure of the that Mary was Harry’s widow and they lived at 8 Barnards Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin in 1911 and she was recorded there after his death. Their children were: William (b 4/11/1908), Albert Arthur (b 8/11/1910) and George Norris (b 2/9/1914).was born.
*1 Sometimes Shepperd or Shepherd
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
