The 1891 census sees the family living in 4, Lenshall Street, Walton-on-the Hill, Liverpool, (St Mary’s). Father, Richard 59,  was a ‘Receiving Clerk’.  Mother Eliza was  59. The children were Lucy 18, Frederick 16 and a Printer’s Apprentice, Herbert  13 was a Message Boy. Alfred Stephens 24, was a Son-in-Law who was a Tobacconist. Lily Stephens was 23 and Harold Stephens, 1 was a Grandson.

The 1901 census tells us that Herbert was  married and living at 20 Hubert or Herbut Street, Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool . He was  24 and a ‘Miller’s Carter’. His wife,  Mary was 21. Their children were  Elizabeth J,  2  and baby William E. 3 months.

Herbert, 33 & Mary, 30 had moved to 16, Princess Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire by the 1911 census.  They had been married for 13 years and they had 6 children born, but 1 had died, according to their census papers.  Herbert,  was a ‘Bar Cutter’ at the Iron & Steel Works. The children listed were William Edward 10, John Richard 8, Herbert  5,  Elsie Isabel  3 and James Albert 11 months*. Also in the household was William Albert Jones a  Boarder.

*James Albert Mason was to lose his life in WW2, so the family were to lose 2 members of their family in the two World Wars.  Please click on the link to read James Albert’s story.

UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above and adds that he was born at Toxteth Park, Liverpool and enlisted in Shotton.

Harry’s medal card also accessible on ancestry, records his medal details and also tells us that his first theatre of war was France and that he entered it on 27th September 1915.

Herbert John Richard Mason in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that his widow Mary was paid £2. 16s 2d on the 30th April 1917 for herself and children and then on the 11th October 1919 she was paid his War Gratuity of £9. 10s 0d.

There is an index card for Herbert (Harry ) Mason in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Record Office in Hawarden. (Flintshire WW1 Index Cards Connah’s Quay F42) The regimental details above are confirmed. The address given is 16, Princess Street, Connah’s Quay, Flintshire. it adds that he served from the  12th September 1914.   He was Killed in France 19th November 1916. The card  was signed on the 22nd September 1919 by Mrs. Mason.

Harry Mason is named on the Memorial Plaque in St.Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay.