He was also known as Harry.
Henry was born abt. 1898, the son of John Henry and Charlotte Simpson who had eight children: Samuel, Arthur, Lettie, Edith, Benjamin, John (Jonathan), Harry and Doris. All the children were born in Mansfield but their father was born in Leicester and their mother in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
In 1891 John (25) was a shoe/factory hand, and he and Charlotte (22) with their one-year old son, Samuel (1) were living at 38 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield. Also in the household were Samuel (23, b. Birmingham, shoe/factory hand) and Elizabeth (20, b. Tickhill) who were described as lodgers.
John and Charlotte and their seven children; Samuel, Arthur, Lettie, Edith, Benjamin, John and Harry, were living at 62 Ratcliffe Gate by 1901. Also in the household was a boarder, Annie Redfern (16), who worked in a cotton mill.
By 1911 John, now described as a boot maker, and Charlotte had moved to 103 Ratcliffe Gate where they were living with their eight children; Samuel (21, coal miner/hewer), Arthur (20, hairdresser), Letty (18, hairdresser), Edith (19, cotton spinner), Benjamin (15, coal miner), John (14, colliery labourer), Harry (12, school) and Doris (4).
Correspondence on Henry's service record shows that the family later lived at 101 Ratcliffe Gate.
A form was completed for the army in June 1919 giving the names of Henry's surviving blood relatives. The form was probably completed on the family's behalf by the person who witnessed the form, RevJames Birch, Church Army Minister of St Peter's Mission, Mansfield, as Charlotte's name is given as the person providing the information but she has signed with 'her mark'
Henry's blood relatives were named as:
Father and mother: John and Charlotte Simpson, 101 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield
Brothers: Samuel (29), 2 Frederick Street, Mansfield; Arthur (28), 116 Broxtowe Drive, Mansfield; Benjamin, 4 Laurel Avenue, Mansfield; John (22), 101 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield
Sisters: Letty Allen (26), 123 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield; Edith Sansom (25), 2 Frederick Street, Mansfield; Doris Simpson (12) 101 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield
The names of four nephews and nieces were crossed out on the form.
Henry's mother, Charlotte, died on 27 February 1933 aged 62 and his father, John, died on 12 November 1934 age 68.