Henry G. Harris

This is written by his grandson (Raymond) who lived with him for six years:

According to his daughter' (Aunt Doreen's) biography "My Kinfolk", his mother used to visit his grandmother Cole who was in ill health. Returning home from a visit, (was raining on her return and her clothes were soaked) failing to change into dry clothing she caught pneumonia, his mother died at an early age.

Doreen said: Father and all the others were looked after by his sister's Laurie and Ada.

His eldest sister Maria lived in Bedford, her husband made riding habits, she made the breeches. Another sister worked in London in service, caught typhoid, left her place of service,came home where she died.

Sister's Laurie and Ada made lace which was part of the cottage industry. Eventually they both worked in a factory making womens dresses (skirts) where they met their future husband's who worked on the railway. They lived in Borehamwood Herts.

Years later Doreen would visit them on a regular basis.

Grand father had gone to Great Barford School, his formal education finished at the age of ten or twelve.

Granfather tried several jobs; working in a factory, coal mine, finally he inlisted in the army (put his age up to eighteen) in which he served twenty eight years. He was in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps in 1895, trained at Shoreham, also taking the opportunity of educating himself in the army. He served in South Africa for three years, spent some time in India, later he returned to South Afriica and took part in the Boer War and was in the seige of Ladysmith. The seige lasted 121 days in 1899. My Aunt Doreen said Grandfather met some great men there; Edgar Wallace and Winston Churchill. He was awarded the South Africa Cross when he returned to England, presented to him by Queen Victoria at Osbourne House, Isle White.

He attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey.

He was again posted to India, in 1908, at St George's Barracks in Madras, that is where he met his future wife, Lillian Radford.

Memories of him as an old man, were interesting, he had a curious mind and the spirit of adventure in him, always had a project on the go. He had tatoos on each fore arm, the left arm was the crossed flags of the union Jack and regiment, the right arm of Queen Victoria. He was a patriotic man, getting out of his chair to stand for the anthem.

He bred Rex Havana rabbits, Rex's were known for their soft plush fur, chocolate colour, the pelts were sold for gloves.

His evening snack was a clove of garlic and cheese.

He enjoyed working in his garden and allotment growing his vege's.

He was in the home guards in WWII.