Harry Jefford

John Henry Jefford known as Harry was born in 1889 in Nottingham and was the son of Abraham a railway carriage washer on the Midland Railway, he and his wife Elizabeth Harriett Jefford née King. His father Abraham was born in 1869 in Nottingham and his mother Elizabeth Harriett King was born in 1870 also in Nottingham, they were married in 1887 in Nottingham and went on to have 7 children, sadly one died in infancy their surviving children were, John Henry, b1890, Abraham b1891, Louie b1894, Ethel b1896 and Lily b1900, all the children were born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family were living at 47 Massey Street, Nottingham and were shown as Abraham 42 yrs a railway carriage worker, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 41 yrs and their children, John Henry 21 yrs an ironmongers porter, Abraham 20 yrs a lace packer, Louie 17yrs a chemist drug packer, Ethel 15 yrs a pattern girl and Lily 11 yrs a scholar. Harry married Florence May Bakewell at St Saviour's Church in the Meadows, Nottingham on 1st February 1916 and they lived at 13a Quernaby Road Mapperley Nottingham and his wife still lived there at the time of Harry's death.

warehouseman and iron monger

7 Ferriby Terrace Glapton Road Nottingham

Private Harry Jefford enlisted in Nottingham on 23rd March 1915, he gave his age as 26 yrs and 4 months, his address as 7 Ferriby Terrace, Glapton Street, Nottingham and his occupation as warehouseman/ironmonger. On 26th March he joined his battalion the 1st Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps at Winchester barracks. On 15th March 1916 he embarked at Southampton on board the SS France to travel to Rouen, landing the following day 16th March 1916. He was kiiled in action on 24th June 1916 having served for a total of 1 year and 96 days. He was killed when a trench mortar shell struck his dugout on 24th June 1916. [1] The other occupant was Second Lieutenant Walter Dunkels. Unable to move, it took six hours to dig him out. [1] The date is recorded as 25th June 1916 by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. His widow received information giving his date of death as 24th June 1916 from a member of the battalion before official news came through. The date of 24th is confirmed in the battalion war diary. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Dunkels was evacuated to England and admitted to Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital, Millbank, on 30th June 1916. Diagnosed with shell shock, he was discharged on 11th July 1916. Death notice published 12th August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “JEFFORD. – Killed in action, August 1st, Lance-Corpl. H. Jefford, King's Royal Rifles, Querneby-road, son of William Jefford, 23, Ortzen-street. – Sorrowing father, sisters, and brother.” Death notice published 15th August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “JEFFORD. – Killed in action, August 1st, Lance-Corpl. Harry Jefford, beloved husband of Fanny Jefford, 72, Querneby-road, Mapperley. – Never forgotten by his sorrowing wife.” Death notice published 16th August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “JEFFORD. – Killed in action, August 1st, Lance-Corpl. Harry Jefford, King's Royal Rifles, beloved husband of Fanny Jefford, 72, Querneby-road, Mapperley. – Never forgotten by his sorrowing wife.” In memoriam notice published 1st August 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “JEFFORD. – In loving memory of Lance-Corporal Harry Jefford, King's Royal Rifles, of 72, Querneby-road, Mapperley, killed in action August 1st, 1916. Sadly missed. – From loving wife. “JEFFORD. – In loving memory of Lance-Corporal H. Jefford, killed in action August 1st, 1916. Not forgotten. – Dad, brothers, and sisters.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918