Private Henry McGregor Payne
| Date of Birth | c. 1887 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 30 |
| Date of Death | 14 August 1916 |
| Service Number | M/38711 |
| Military Service | Army Service Corps, 55th Div. Supply Col. |
| Merton Address | 1 Willow Terrace, Church Road, Mitcham |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Henry was born in 1887 in Chislehurst, in the borough of Bromley. His mother was Eliza, and his father was John who was employed as a gardener. Henry had three elder sisters, Christina, Jessie and Gertrude, and according to the 1891 Census, the family lived at Parks Lodge, Bromley.
Henry enlisted with the army on 24 September 1906 as a private with the 10th Hussars of the line (The Prince of Wales Own). His attestation papers reveal that he was aged 20 years and 6 months, 5 foot 7 inches in height, weighing in at 130 lbs, with a fresh complexion. His employment at that time was as a Messenger. Henry attended the Duke of York Military School in 1907 and achieved a Third-Class Certificate.
Henry served in India from 4 September 1907 to 18 November 1912. While in India in 1909, he was sentenced to 10 days detention for being out of bounds and improperly dressed. Even so, Henry was one of those servicemen who were selected to receive the Delhi Durbar Medal in 1911, which was struck to celebrate George V being proclaimed Emperor of India. 10,000 medals were allocated to officers and men of the British and Indian Amies to those present at the Durbar, and others who contributed to the Raj, although not everyone received the medal.
Henry returned to England in November 1912 and remained "At Home" until September 1913 when his 7-year term of service ended. After completing his 7 years' service, Henry signed up as an Army Reservist on 30 September 1913 for a further 5 years. The Army Reserve was a pool of men who had already completed a term of service with the regular army. Their role was to fill out Expeditionary Force regular units based at home to full strength in the event of war.
WW1 broke out in July 1914, and the Army Reservists were mobilised in early August. Henry's medal card shows that he was in the Theatre of War from 7 October 1914. Records also show that Henry served with the Royal Horse Guards in London during 1915.
Henry was transferred again to the Army Service Corps (Supply Column) on 18 October 1915 where he served until, he was killed in action in France on 14 August 1916.
After Henry's death his father John received his last pay of £27 plus the War Gratuity of £11.00. John and Eliza had since moved to 1 Willow Terrace, Church Road, Mitcham.
Henry is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France and locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.