In 1888, Harry’s parents – Ada Humphreys, aged 18, from Gwernaffield, and Edward Jackson, aged 24, from Brignorth, Shropshire – were married in Holywell, Flintshire.

They had their first son, Ernest, born in Wales, in 1889, and their second son, Harry, born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, in about June 1890.

By 1891 Edward and Ada were living at 3 Brockley Square, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, with their two boys. Edward’s occupation was listed as ‘Scavenger’.

By 1901, Harry, then aged 10, and his younger sister Gertie (aged 7) were living with their maternal grandparents, Edward and Amelia Humphreys, and two of their adult children, at Friezland, Rhydymwyn. Their grandfather was an Engine Driver at a lead mine. The census shows that Harry and Gertie only spoke English, but the rest of the family also spoke Welsh.

By 1911 Harry was working as an ‘above ground labourer’ at the Brickyard. He and Gertie were still living with their grandparents at Pen Y Fron, Rhydymwyn. The census shows that their grandmother, Amelia, wasn’t at home on the night of the census – she was a midwife and spent the night at Coed Du Lodge, Rhydymwyn, delivering a baby girl. By this time, Harry and Gertie were listed as speaking both English and Welsh.

Harry’s grandfather, Edward, died in January 1917, and was buried at Rhydymwyn. His burial record listed his residence as Pen Y Fron, Rhydymwyn. Harry’s grandmother, Amelia died and was buried at Rhydymwyn in October 1921, her residence was listed as Railway Cottage, Rhydymwyn.

Harry initially enlisted at Birkenhead, Chester, with the Cheshire Regiment, moving to Labour Corps before finally serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He died at France & Flanders, of wounds, on 13 October 1918, aged 28. His Medal Index Card states that there was an application for his medals on 21 August 1921.

Harry’s CWGC record can be found here.

Researcher: Emma Jones

Sources: 
-Censuses: 
–1891: Class: RG12; Piece: 2174; Folio: 35; Page: 15
–1901: Class: RG13; Piece: 5213; Folio: 129; Page: 15
–1911: Class: RG14; Piece: 33952; Schedule Number: 149

-Flintshire WW1 records: Ref: D/DM/181 GWERNAFFIELD F6, available from Flintshire.gov.uk
-Casualty details available from cwgc.org
-MIC and SDGW available from Ancestry.co.uk or Findmypast.co.uk
-Parish marriage, baptism and burial records available at Flintshire Records Office, Hawarden, or original images are available to view at Findmypast.co.uk
-Many record indexes can be found for free at freebmd.org.uk or familysearch.org