Harry [Henry John] Jefford
1911 - ironmonger's porter
1915 - warehouseman/ironmonger
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Henry Jefford, known as Harry, was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Harriett Jefford (née King_.
His father Abraham was born in 1869 in Nottingham and his mother Elizabeth Harriett King was born in 1870, also in Nottingham. They were married in 1887 (reg. OND Nottingham and had seven children, one of whom, William Albert, died in infancy (b. 1902 JAS d. 1902 JAS). Their surviving children were Elizabeth Caroline birth registered 1888 (JFM), John Henry b. 8 November 1889 (reg. OND), Abraham b. January 1891, Louie b. September 1893, Ethel b. January 1896 and Lily/Lillie birth registered b. 1900 (JFM). The children's places of birth vary on each census eg. the three oldest children were born in either Sneinton, Ruddington or Nottingham.
John Henry was baptised on 18 March 1890 (b. 8 November 1889) at Nottingham St Ann; his parents were then living at 28 Selbourne Street.
Although recorded on John's baptismal record living at 28 Selbourne Street, Abraham and Elizabeth, both hosiery trimmers, had moved to 47 Thorneywood Rise, Sneinton, by 1891. Also in the home on the night of the census were their three children Elizabeth (3), John (1) and Abraham (u/1y) together with Abraham's brother-in-law, Henry Enoch (?Mann), a collier.
The family was living at 4 Kelly Street, Nottingham by 1901: Abraham a railway carriage sweeper, Elizabeth a lace clipper, and their children Elizabeth an errand girl, John, Abraham, Louie and Ethel who were school age and Lily (1). The youngest child, William, was born the following year but died in infancy.
Elizabeth Caroline married John Robert Edis in 1908 and in 1911 they were living at 40 Windmill Lane, Sneinton; 'Carrie' was a blouse machinist and her husband a shop assistant (grocery). They emigrated to Australia on 17 September 1914 onboard SS Borda (P&O Line) for Sydney via the Cape. John died on 1 August 1961 and Elizabeth Caroline on 21 February 1971; both were buried in Cootamundra General Cemetery, Cootamundra-Gundagai, New South Wales.
In 1911 John's family was recorded at 47 Massey Street, Nottingham: Abraham snr., a railway carriage washer (Midland Railway Co.), John Henry an ironmongers' porter, Abraham a lace packer, Louie a drug packer (chemist), Ethel a pattern girl and Lily who was at school.
Abraham jnr. married Ethel Norman (b. 1894) at Nottingham Register Office on 12 October 1912. His Army service record names two daughters, Lily/Lillie Doris b. January 1913 and Ethel Ada b. December 1916. The couple were then living at 1 Melton Terrace, Melton Street, Nottingham, and were still at the same address in 1921. A third daughter, Louie, had been born shorly before the census was recorded and another daughter, Laura E, was born in 1923. Louie died in August 1935 aged 14.
Harry married Florence May Bakewell at St Saviour's Church, Meadows, on 1 February 1916. A notice of his death published by his parents and siblings in a local newspaper in July 1916 gave his address as 6, Ashling Street but a photograph of Harry which was published the same month had a caption which gave his address as Mona House, Querneby Road, Mapperley. The Army pension record gave his widow's address as Mona House 13a Quernaby Road, Mapperley.
Florence (b. 1890) married secondly Frank Woods (b. 1880) in 1918 (JFM Grantham) and they probably had seven children (five sons, two daughters). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Frank, a painter (engineering works) and Florence were living in Grantham with two of their sons, Cyril and Noel, and a daughter, Florence; the records of two other members of the household, possibly Winifred and Charles, remain closed. Frank died in 1956 and Florence in 1967 (deaths registered Grantham).
Florence Woods ('late Jefford') completed a form for the Army on 14 July 1919 listing her late husband's surviving blood relatives: parents Abraham & Elizabeth Jefford, 46 Ashling Street, Nottingham. Brother. Abraham, Milbourne (sic) Terrace, London Road. Sisters. Ethel, Louie, Lilly, 46 Ashling Street. Note: the eldest sister, Elizabeth Constance (Edis), whose name was not included on the form, had emigrated to Australia in 1914.
Harry's mother, Elizabeth Harriet, died in an accident in the city on 12 January 1929. A newspaper report of the accident gave her address as 6 Ashling Street, Meadow Lane. (See 'Extra information')
Her widower, Abraham, married Constance Kathleen Wing (b. 1909) in 1938 and in 1939 they were living at 56 Dame Agnes Street, Nottingham. Abraham was a railway wagon painter and his wife a sorter and packer (towel service). Abraham died in April 1947; his wife survived him.
Abraham and Elizabeth's third daughter, Ethel, had married William Henry Rowlands (b. 1894) in 1920. Ethel and her husband William (b. 1894), a bus driver and tester, were living at 26 Rutland Road, West Bridgford, in 1939 together with their daughter Marjorie (b. 1921) an order office clerk (chemical company) and also an air raid warden, and Ethel's unmarried sister Louie, a chemist's departmental supervisor and also an ARP/medical transport. Louie died in 1957 aged 63, she was still living with her sister and brother-in-law at 26 Rutland Road. William Henry died in 1960 and his widow Ethel in 1971; the probate record gave her address as 26 Rutland Road.
The youngest daughter, Lillie, married Frederick Smith (b. 1900) in 1929 (reg. JAS), the same year as her mother's death, and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Frederick, a lace finisher chargehand, and Lillie, a hosiery flatlock machinist, were living at 7 Ashling Street, Nottingham. Lillie died in 1979 (reg. JAS).
In 1939 Abraham jnr. a railway porter, was living at 33 Mabel Grove, West Bridgford, with his wife Ethel, and their daughters Lillie D. (b. 1912) a hosiery machinist, Ethel A (b. 1916 later Worth 1955) and Laura E (b. 1923 later Weymouth 1943, Watts 1953, Pindard 1968) both chemicals process workers. Also in the home was William Norman (b.1890 d. 1948), described on the Register as 'incapacitated'. Abraham's wife died in 1957 (JFM) and their unmarried daughter Lillie in 1957 (AMJ). Abraham was living at Ridgway Close West Bridgford, when he died on 8 March 1959.
Henry John (Harry) Jefford enlisted in Nottingham on 23 March 1915. He was aged 26y 4m, occupation warehouseman/ironmonger, and living at 7 Ferriby Terrace, Glapton Street, Nottingham. His address after his marriage in February 1916 was Mona House, Querneby Road, Nottingham.
Harry was posted initially to 5th Bn. Kings Royal Rifles, but after joining KRR at Winchester Barracks on 26 March 1915 was posted to the 1st Battalion. He embarked at Southampton (SS France) on 15 March 1916, disembarking at Rouen the following day, 16 March 1916. He joined 2IBD at Rouen the same day and 'proceeded to join Battalion at the Front on 26 March', joining 1 KRR on 27 March.
He was killed on 25 June 1916 when a trench mortar shell struck his dugout [1]. Another occupant of the dugout, Second Lieutenant Walter Dunkels [2], was also trapped and it took six hours to release him.
Harry's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial (Bay 7).
Harry had served for 1 year 96 days. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal which were signed for on 17 June 1921 by his widow, who had remarried (Woods, residence Grantham).
[1] The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record gives Harry's date of death as 25 June 1916. However, the date of his death is given in the Battalion war diary as 24 June and Harry's widow was told by a member of the Battalion, before she received official notification of her husband's death, that Harry had died on 24 June 1916. Nevertheless, there is an entry in his Army Service Record which does give his date of death 'in the field' as 25 June 1916. There are several letters on file relating to Florence's enquiries about both confirmation of her husband's death and the date he was killed; these include a letter sent on her behalf on 7 July 1916 to OIC Rifles Records, Winchester, from the joint honorary secretary of the City of Nottingham, Prince of Wales' National Relief (-). There was also correspondence after Harry's death about the return of the marriage certificate which Florence had sent to the Regimental Paymaster in April 1916, presumably in relation to an allotment of pay, and now needed the marriage certificate to support her application for a pension. Florence also wrote several letters (partly illegible) to OIC Rifles Records about the return of her husband's personal property mentioning in particular a signet ring and pocket book. However, given the circumstances of Harry's death it is perhaps unlikely that these, or any other items, could be returned to her.
[2] Second Lieutenant Walter Dunkels, 6th Bn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps, was medically evacuated from France and admitted to Queen Alexandra's Military Hospital, Millbank, on 30 June 1916. He was diagnosed with shell shock and a contusion to his thigh. It was noted on the admisisons record that Second Lieutenant Dunkels had served for 1 year 9 months. He was discharged from hospital on 11 July 1916. There is a record that a Captain W Dunkels KRRC qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal and as there is no CWGC record for a W/Walter Dunkels it is to be assumed that he survived the war.
Harry's brother, Abraham, attested in the Territorial Force on 10 January 1911 on a four-year (UK) engagement, 1289 Private 7th Bn. Notts & Derby Regiment. He was 20 years old, warehouseman, address 44 Massey Street, and named his father, Abraham of 47 Massey Street as his next of kin. Abraham jnr. married Ethel in October 1912 and they later lived at 1 Melton Terrace, Melton Street, London Road, Nottingham. He attended annual camps and on 3 September 1914 signed an agreement to serve outside the UK and transferred to embodied service 5 August 1915-1 February 1916 and served with the BEF France: Home 10 Jan. 1911 – 27 Feb. 1915, 4y 49d, France 28 Feb. 1915-25 Jan. 1916, 332d, Home 26 Jan. 1916-1 Feb. 1916, 7d. Abraham was transferred to the UK in January 1916 for discharge on 1 February 1916 on termination of his engagement. He was then called up on 26 July 1915, 6455 Private, 'A' Company 7th (Robin Hood) Reserve Battalion. On 8 Jan. 1917 he was posted to 1/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (307673 Private), qualification stretcher bearer. Abraham was admitted to 55 General Hospital, Boulogne) on 6 June 1918 and medically evacuated to England on 17 June 1918 with furlough 3 Aug-12 Aug 1918, He was posted to 5th Reserve Bn., then embarked on 11 October 1918 disembarking Calais the same day. He joined his unit on 21 October 1918. Abraham transferred to Class 'Z' Army Reserve on demobilisation at Clipstone Camp on 29 March 1919. Home address 19 Taylors Cottages, Melton Street, London Road, Nottingham.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of George Heath the beloved husband of Elizabeth Heath who died March 5th 1897 aged 72 years 'sleep - for thou hast need of rest, thou has suffered much, be-blest'. Also the above Elizabeth Heath who died March 29th 1906 aged 76 years 'gone but not forgotten'. Also Signaller John Henry Jefford the beloved husband of Florence May Jefford 1st Batt KRR killed in action in France June 25th (sic) 1916 aged 26 years. 'Duty nobly done'.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 8 July 1916: ‘Jefford. Killed in action, June 25th, 1916, Signaller Harry Jefford, KRR, aged 26 of 6, Ashling-street. He did his duty. From sorrowing mother, father, sisters and brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 8 July 1916: ‘Jefford. Killed in action, June 25th, 1916, Signaller Harry Jefford, aged 26 years of 6, Ashling-street, beloved and only brother of Abe and Ethel Jefford. Thy will be done. Brother, wife, and baby.’ [m 1912, first child b. 1913] (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 13 July 1916: Photograph with caption: ‘In the Cause of Glorious Liberty ... Bottom. Signaller H Jefford, King’s Royal Rifles, 27, killed in action June 25th, Mona House, Querneby Rd., Mapperley.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’ ‘1914-1918’, 25 June 1924, 26 June 1928: Jefford. In loving memory of Harry, killed June 26th, 1916. Ever in our thoughts, Mam, dad, sisters, brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Also 25 June 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936 from father, brothers, sisters. Also 25 June 1940.
Nottingham Evening Post, 12 January 1929 (extract): ‘Nottingham fatality. Post Office cleaner killed by motor. Knocked down after alighting from tram. New market ‘death trap’. ‘A distressing accident, which unhappily resulted in the death of a Nottingham woman, occurred in the Market-place early this morning. The victim was Mrs Elizabeth Jefford, 58, of 6, Ashling-street, Meadow-lane. It appears that the deceased, who was employed as a cleaner at the Post Office, was proceeding to work shortly after 5am. She travelled on a No. 3 tramcar from Trent Bridge and alighted in the Market-place near the Victoria Statue. She crossed over in front of another tram-car, and was caught by a taxi-cab which was being driven in the direction of Trent Bridge by Albert Evans, 23 Cornhill-road, Carlton-road. The unfortunate woman was knocked down and sustained a fractured base of the skull and other injuries. Mrs Jefford was taken to the General Hospital but died shortly after admission. Deceased has a grown-up family, two daughters living at home, and two are married.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 14 January 1929. Report of inquest into the accident in which Mrs Jefford was killed. Verdict ‘Accidental Death’. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
The family inserted ‘In Memoriam’ notices in the Nottingham Evening Post, until at least 1954.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 11 April 1947: ‘Jefford. On the 10th of April, Abraham, passed peacefully away, Kathleen, Bernard and family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated RF (July 2026).
Photo of Harry Jefford
Commemorated on the Arras Memorial (www.cwgc.org)
![Photo of Harry [Henry John] Jefford](https://ik.imagekit.io/tailwinddigital/rohphotosnottiprd/21791.jpg)
Photo of Harry [Henry John] Jefford
Photograph, Nottingham Evening Post, 13 July 1916 (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)