Henry French
Groom
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
The only Henry French with a connection to Ranskill was in the 1911 census. He was a single man working as a groom (and army reservist) at the Barnby Moor Lodge which is only 2 miles south. He had been born at Thatcham, Newbury, Berks, the son of James and Eliza French in 1884. Maybe he made friends with local Ranskill residents or attended Ranskill church for him to be named on the Ranskill Roll of Honour. Towards the end of 1911 he married Isabel Bolton at Lancaster. They had a child named Elsie born in 1913 and was registered at Retford, suggesting that Henry and wife were back in the area.
His pension record card shows his next of kin was his wife Isabel (born 14th November 1887) and he had 2 children, Elsie Ruth born 9th January 1913 and Henry born 2nd November 1914,
Commencing 23rd April 1917 his widow was awarded a pension of 24 shilings and 2 pence a week.
When the war came he enlisted back in Newbury, and joined the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, âFâ Battery, as a Bombardier number 19550.
He must have been sent to the Western War theatre as his medal index card shows he landed in France on 5th October 1914, he was killed in action on the 5th September 1916 age 31 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
His wife, Isabel, later went on to marry again in 1923 to Walter T Darrel at Faversham. CWG additional information:- Husband of Isabel Darrell (formerly French), of 84, "C" Square, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot.
Commemorated in Ranskill Church WW1 record book and Window 1
Ranskill memorial book details:- Henry French No. 19550
Commemorated in Ranskill Church WW1 record book and Window 1.
Research by Colin Dannatt, Additional researc Peter Gillings
Photo of Henry French
Thiepval Memorial France