200881 Sgt Henry Himsworth, 1/4th Bn, York & Lancs Regt

200881 Sergeant Henry Himsworth of C Compnay, the 1/4th Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, died as a result of a gunshot wound to the pelvis on the 8th June 1919. He was 30 years old, the only son of Mr John Wilfred Himsworth of 99 Bradley Street, Crookes.

The 1901 census shows Henry as a 12 year old boy living at 99 Bradley Street with his parents (both aged 39) and three sisters. His father's trade is recorded as "razor grinder" whilst his older sister Lucy - 16 years old in 1901 - was working as in a silver warehouse.

Henry's service record survives in the WO 363 series at the National Archives, and the following information is taken from this. He volunteered with the 4th York and Lancs on the 8th November 1914 and was given the service number 2726. His home address was the one mentioned above.

Henry was posted to the 2/4th Battalion on 13th April 1915 and then back to the 1/4th on the 27th June. He was appointed acting corporal on the 13th June 1917 and acting paid lance-sergeant on the 10th October 1917. He was promoted to acting paid sergeant nine days later, and then to full sergeant in December 1917. By now, his old Territorial Force number would have been replaced with 200881.

Two days after he had been posted back to the 1/4th Battalion, Henry had sailed for France, arriving there on the 29th June 1915. There is no indication on his service record that he returned to England at any point, but a gunshot wound to his thigh is noted.

Henry was captured on the 13th October 1918 and later repatriated to London in January 1919. From the 10th to the 18th January he was in King George Hospital, London and was then transferred immediately to Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield. At the time of his transfer there was "practically no movement in [his] knee or hip." An operation was found necessary in May 1919 and it appears that septicaemia soon followed. He died as a result of what must have been a long and painful wound, and septicaemia. The time of death was recorded as quarter past nine in the morning and his parents were at his bedside when he died. Medical records in his file give his age as 28 and his religion as Wesleyan. He is buried in Sheffield (Crookes) Cemetery.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, 1901 census, BMD registers, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission