Private Henry Herbert Whitbourn
| Date of Birth | c. 1888 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 29 |
| Date of Death | 27 September 1917 |
| Service Number | 201891/235196 |
| Military Service | Nottingham and Derbyshire |
| Merton Address | 17 Mount Road |
| Local Memorial | St. Luke's Church, Wimbledon |
Additional Information
Henry was born in Battersea, the fourth child of Samuel and Emily Whitbourn. He and his siblings, Emily, Kate, Samuel and Alice, grew up in Battersea and Henry attended Shillington Street School from 20 October 1893. They appear to have been a close knit family and all the siblings were still living at home at the 1911 census, but the death of their father a few years later meant that, by 1916, Henry was living at 17 Mount Road, Wimbledon Park.
Henry enlisted at Wimbledon on 29 February 1916, initially expecting to join the East Surrey Regiment. His service papers show that he was 5ft 8ins tall with a fresh complexion, a girth of 37ins with an expansion of 2ins and he weighed 141lbs. He had a birth mark on his left hip.
He was mobilised on 10 April 1916 and spent time with the Bedfordshire Regiment before transferring to the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. He had attained “Lance Rank” before reverting to his permanent rank of Private in July 1917.
Henry fought at Passchendaele and was reported missing on 29 September 1917. His remains were not identified and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial and in St Luke’s Church, Wimbledon Park. He left the sum of £100 9s 6d to Emily Whitburn, spinster according to the probate register.