Henry was born in 1897 in Treuddyn, Flintshire. He is listed on the 1901 census living in Rhyd Talog, Treuddyn  aged 4 years with his parents James and Elizabeth and three siblings ( Joseph 12 yrs, Simon 8 yrs and Jane 5 yrs). The father James was 36 and had been born in Cheshire. He was a self employed ‘beesom maker ‘ which means he made brooms. His wife Elizabeth was 34 and hailed originally from Lancashire.

The 1911 census lists them as still living in Treuddyn where the family had grown. The form tells us that Elizabeth had borne 9 children and they were all still living. Only 8 of them however, are listed (Joseph 22, Simon 18,Jane 16, Henry 14, Lydia 10, Martha 7, Thomas 4 and James 2) .  Joseph, Simon and Henry had become part of the family business as they were all ‘beesom makers’.

The rest of the information we have gleaned about Henry, is on his army medical papers. He enlisted in March 1916. His address was given as Nant y Glynne, Treuddyn and he was described as a ‘labourer’. He was 19 years old and he was placed in the Welsh Regiment. His medical history notes  that he had few ‘curious’ teeth (?) and a high palate with ‘defective articulation’. We assume this means he had a cleft palate which affected his speech. His army career was short.

He was admitted to a military hospital on 16th April 1916 with Pulmonery Tuberculosis. He spent 53 days in hospital.
He was discharged from the army in June 1916 as being ‘medically unfit’. He died two and a half years later presumably at home as he was buried in the churchyard at Treuddyn. So far we have been unable to find his grave. The fact that he died after being discharged from the army, probably means that he was not entitled to a military grave although he is listed by the Commonwealth war Graves Commission.