Harry Daft

Harry was the son of John and Elizabeth Daft (née Anderson). His father was born in Lenton in 1854 and his mother in Carlton, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in January 1856. John and Elizabeth were married at Lenton St Anthony on 30 July 1883 and had five children, all born in Lenton, and at least four of whom were baptised at St Anthony: William Austin b. 1884 bap. 28 December 1884; Annie Eleanor b. 1886 bap. 25 May 1890; Mabel Gertrude b.1888 bap. 25 May 1890; John Emery ('Jem') b. 1890 bap. 25 May 1890 and Harry b. 21 September 1894. John Daft was a butcher on his own account and in 1891 was living at 22 Gregory Street, Lenton, which was also his business premises. John and Elizabeth continued to live there until his death on 20 July 1915 when the business was already for sale as he had retired on the grounds of ill-health. However, in 1911 two of his children, Mabel and John, in addition to his wife, were assisting in the business. His son Harry was still at school and living at home, but the eldest son William was an architect and surveyor living in Oxford, while the eldest daughter Annie had married Edgar Sidney Fillingham, a licensed victualler, in 1908. John's widow had moved to 96 Lenton Boulevard by 1917 and was still living there with her unmarried son John Emery, a licensee's assistant, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Elizabeth continued to live at the same address until her death at the age of 82 on 5 March 1940. Harry's brothers also served in the war. William served in the Royal Engineers as a captain but later transferred to the RAF. John Emery attested on 8 June 1915 and served initially in the 1/1st South Notts Hussars spending over two years in Salonika from 4 April 1916. In January 1918 he was transferred compulsorily to the Labour Corps (485652) and served with 979 Labour Corps until he was discharged on 11 April 1919. Their sister Mabel's husband, Leonard William Saywell (m. 1911), an accountant and auditor, served in the Royal Flying Corps from 21 July 1917, transferring to the RAF on 1 April 1918 (189488 Clerk General).

Admitted Nottingham High School 18 September 1906 aged 11.

17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Bn London Regiment attd. Royal Fusiliers. Harry was commissioned in the London Regiment in October 1916. He was killed in action on 13 April 1917 during the Battle of Arras and is buried in Roclincourt Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. III. A. 36). CWGC - Roclincourt Military Cemetery (extract): 'The French troops who held this front before March 1916 made a military cemetery (now removed), on the south-west side of which the present Commonwealth cemetery was made. It was begun by the 51st (Highland) and 34th Divisions in April 1917, and contains many graves of 9 April, the first day of the Battles of Arras. It continued in use, as a front-line cemetery, until October 1918 and after the Armistice graves, mostly from the battlefield north of Roclincourt, were brought into Plot IV, Row F.'

Photograph: connect.nottinghamhigh.co.uk Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 21 April 1917: ‘Daft. Killed in action, April 13th, Second-Lieut. Harry Daft, youngest son of Elizabeth and the late John Daft, 96 Lenton Boulevard, aged 22 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 21 April 1917: ‘Roll of Honour. Killed. Lieut H Daft. Second-Lieut. Harry Daft, who was killed in action on April 13th, was the youngest son of Mrs Elizabeth and the late Mr John Daft, of Lenton-boulevard, Nottingham. He was 22 years of age, and was granted a commission in the London Regiment in October last. He was attached to the Royal Fusiliers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 3 June 1915: ‘Businesses for Sale. Old-established Butcher’s Business, 45 years successfully carried on by Mr Daft, Gregory-street, Old Lenton, good living accommodation, slaughter-house, stabling, garden and paddock, retiring owing to ill-health. Apply George Marriett Estate Agent, 34 St James’s-st.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Daft John of 22 Gregory-street Lenton Nottingham died 20 July 1915 Probate Nottingham 25 August to Elizabeth Daft widow and William Austin Daft surveyor. Effects £6250 15s. 2d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 March 1940. ‘Daft. March 5th, at 96 Lenton-boulevard, in her 83rd year Elizabeth, widow of John. Funeral arrangements later.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7869399 - 14 February 2005 (extract): 'A First World War Victory Medal has been discovered among foreign coins donated to the RSPCA charity’s shop in York. Georgie England, a volunteer in the shop in Gillygate, discovered the medal as she sorted through the donated coins before sending them off to be converted into sterling … is inscribed with the name H Daft. She has now sold the medal for £34 to a collector on the internet auction site eBay and has discovered from her buyer that the medal was given posthumously to Second Lieutenant Harry Daft, who died in action during the Battle of Arras on April 13, 1917.’ The money was donated to the RSPCA.'