Harry Silcox

Story:
Harry Wilcox was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 17 May 1895 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Shaftesbury, on 16 Jun 1895 the son of Edwin James Silcox (Senior) and Emma Jane Silcox (nee Weldon).  He lived most of his life in the Shaftesbury area including the King's Arms Inn, where his father was the Innkeeper, and later at Barton Cottage, Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, Dorset, with his step father, Albert Coward, who his mother had married following the death of his father in 1900.  Harry had enlisted and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a Private (Service Nos. 2526 & 200540).  He served with the 1/4th Battalion but the theatre of war is not known though his Battalion was known to have served in India. He was discharged on 22 May 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living with his mother and step-father in Enmore Green, Shaftesbury, workig as a Tailor for Pryce & Barribal, Tailors, of Shaftesbury. By the time of the 1939 Register he was an patient in the Dorset Mental Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, described as a (former) Tailor.  He remained single throughout his life. His death was recorded at the Weymouth, Dorset, Registry in 1968.  His brothers, Edwin James Silcox and Philip Ernest Silcox, also served in the conflict.