Henry Jeffery

Story:
Henry Jeffery was born on 9th June 1896 at Donhead St. Andrew, Wiltshire, the son of George Jeffery and Ellen Jeffery (née Pardy). They lived at Higher Berry Court Farm, Donhead St. Mary, Wiltshire. His father died in 1904. Henry was recorded as a Boarder at Shaftesbury Grammar School in the 1911 Census. He left school in the summer of 1911 and on enlistment his occupation was given as 'Ironmonger's Apprentice'. He enlisted with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 941) on 5th September 1914, later transferring to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry Section) (Service No. 52942).  He was attached to the 15th Squadron of the Tank Corps and achieved the rank of Acting Sergeant, serving in France from 3 Dec 1915 and later in Iraq and India. He was demobilized on 3rd January 1920 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals, the 1915 Star and the India General Service Medal (Afghanistan & N.W. Frontier Clasps) 1919. His mother had died in 1916 and the 1921 Census shows him as a visitor at 19 Mont le Grand, Exeter, Devon, described as an Ironmonger's Assistant in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He married Dorothy Irene Glass at St. Thomas Church, Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 1st September 1925 and they went on to have one child. His last known address was 3 Newport Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, (per the 1939 Register) where he had his own Ironmongery business. He died at Swindon in 1968.  Henry's brother, George Arthur Jeffery, was regrettably killed during the conflict whilst serving with the Australian Imperial Force. Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter. Printed Source: First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915