Wales, Henry

Henry 

Wales

- 1918
Rank Private
Service no.63451
DiedAugust 25, 1918

About

About
Henry
Wales

Henry known as Harry was the youngest child of Edward Dennis Wales a Shoe Finisher and Emma Stevens who had married on 29/3/1875, although their surname was Wales it was spelt as ‘Wells’ on the marriage certificate. The couple lived at 37 West Holme Street and had three children, Harry was the youngest, Caroline Louise was born in 1875, Joseph in 1877 and Henry was born in 1884.

The 1911 Census shows that only Harry’s father and his sister Caroline were still living at 37 West Holme Street, his mother had died in 1904. Joseph had married Ellen Ross in 1899 and was living 49 Ridley Street with their children, Henry had moved out as he had also got married.

On the 13th July 1910 Harry married Emily Tomkins at St Michael’s & All Angels Church in Knighton, she was living at 243 Welford Road at the time, the couple started their married life living at 20 Dane Avenue and the 1911 Census shows that the couple were both working in the Boot Warehouse.

Harry was Killed in Action on 25/8/1918 and is buried at Gomiecourt South Cemetery in France, his inscription reads ‘Duty Nobly Done’. Gomiecourt village was captured by the 3rd Division on 23/8/1918 and the cemetery was started at the end of August 1918, it holds 206 Commonwealth burials and 27 German burials in a separate plot.

Harry left an estate worth £467 to Emily in his will dated 6/11/1916, he had various investments, £200 invested with the Corporation of Leicester, £70 invested with St Martin’s Bank and £3 invested with Equity Boot & Shoe Works on Western Road. It was also noted on the will that he was a Soldier ‘in actual Military Service’.

Emily never remarried, she died in 1967 and is buried at Welford Road Cemetery, Harry is also commemorated on her grave stone.