Henry John Weeden

Item

Title

Henry John Weeden

Who?

Contributor's grandfather

Item(s)

Cross, whistle, photo taken in hospital, photo taken in Ireland, two other photos

Story

Henry John Weeden was born 28th December 1885 in Greenwich to William Henry and Annie Weeden. William was a bricklayer. He was the eldest of 12 brothers and sisters.

Before the war Henry was a painter and decorator. His mother died in 1908 and he appears to have lived with his paternal grandmother for a while before enlisting in the Army and being posted to India. He returned to the UK at the outbreak of the war. He had a cross which was his mother’s (she was a Catholic).

He was injured 3 times, the first in 1915. It was while recovering in Hastings that he met his future wife, Rosina Philpot, who was working as a Voluntary Nurse. He returned to France where he was injured a further 2 times: he was gassed, then later he buried in a tunnel and hit in the head with shrapnel.

He was transferred from the Royal Flying Corps to the Royal Air Force on 1st April 1918. On 1st April 1919 Harry was transferred back to the Army.
He was a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery regimental number 115378, a Sapper in the Royal Engineers regimental number 254160, the Royal Airforce service number 148766.

Henry had 22 operations on his head. He suffered pain all his life and turned to drink to forget. He also served in Ireland, which is where his mother Annie was from, but the contributor is unsure when this was but has a photograph of him while there on service.

In 1939 he was a general labourer living in a lodging house in Deptford.
Henry died on his own on 15th May 1947; he and Rosina separated during the Second World War.

When?

1908-1919

Where?

Ireland, Western Front

Contributor

Joyce Harper

Collection Day

06/04/2019 Williton Pavillion

This item was submitted on June 17, 2019