Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

John Henry was born in Preston in 1878, son of Henry, a potato dealer, and Mary Howells.  In 1891, he was living with his parents and three sisters at 4 Great Shaw Street, Preston.

John married Ada Beatrice Mann in Burnley in June 1900 and in the 1911 Census they were living at 239 Fletcher Road, Preston and John’s occupation was cake hawker.

A service record could not be located but the following information was detailed on his medal card and pension records.

John enlisted into the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment and served with the 1^st and 3rd Battalion, later transferring to the 563rd Labour Company.  He served in France from 22 June 1915.   He was discharged on 7 March 1919, with a 40% disability suffering with shell shock and DAH (disordered action of the heart) which had originated in July 1915.  According to medical reports individuals with the condition presented with speech hesitancy and difficulty in finding the right words, with a marked tremor of the hands. John was also reported to have enlargement of the heart and was still attending the Special Neurological Board in Liverpool in 1923 suffering with the same symptoms.  John was awarded the 15 Star and the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

John Henry died at Roose Hosptital, Barrow-in-Furness on 8 September 1961, aged 83 years.

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