Henry Simpson Jefford
1891 - draughtsman
1892-1895 - Kings Royal Rifle Corps (discharged 16 January 1895)
1901 - grocery warehouseman
1911 - Co-operative Society receiving clerk
1915 - clerk
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Henry Simpson was the son of William Jefford and Ann Simpson. No record of his parents' marriage has yet been traced.
William and Ann probably had seven children. The eldest, William, who was born in Radford in about 1863, only appears on the 1871 Census. Given the number of records of the same name/similar date of birth, he has not been positively identified after this date. William's name was not included in a list of Henry's surviving blood relatives compiled by his widow Fanny for the Army in 1919.
The six other children were also born in Radford, Nottingham, and four had their mother's surname as their second name: Ellen Simpson b. 1868 (OND), Lydia Simpson b. 1872 (AMJ), Henry Simpson b. 1874 (AMJ), Sidney Simpson b. 1875 (OND), Ada b. 1878 (OND) and Elizabeth b. 1883 (JAS).
William, a lace designer and draughtsman, was living on Highurst Street, Radford, in 1871 with Ann, their son William (8) and daughter, Ellen (2). Also in the household were three boarders, a married couple and their infant son.
The family has not been traced on the 1881 Census but by 1891 William and Ann were living at 9 Lake Street, Nottingham. In the home on the night of the census were: Ellen (22) a lace mender, Lydia (18), Henry (16) a draughtsman, Sidney (15) a pawnbroker's assistant, Ada (12) and Elizabeth (7). They were still at the same address when Henry joined the Army in January 1892 (discharged 1895).
Henry married Fanny Caroline Reed (b. 1 January 1871) on 15 August 1899 at Nottingham All Saints. Their only child, Clarice Elizabeth, was born in 1900 (JFM) but died in infancy (reg. 1900 JFM). In 1901 Henry and Fanny were living at at 46 Coppice Road and in 1911 at 42 Laurel Avenue.
Fanny was living at 72 Querneby Road, Mapperley, by 1916 and was still at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household was a boarder, Alfred Marcoline Mason (40), a mental hospital attendant at The Coppice, Mapperley; he died in 1942. Fanny died in January 1950 aged 79 (cremation).
Henry's widow completed a form for the Army in August 1919 listing Henry's surviving blood relatives:
Widow: Fanny Caroline Jefford, 72 Querneby Road Mapperley, Nottingham.
Children: none.
Father: William Jefford, 23 Ortzen Street, Nottingham.
Mother: deceased.
Brother: Sidney Jefford (43) Speeckley Street, Nottingham.
Sisters: Ellen Newton (49) 37 Southey Street, Nottingham. Lizzie (sic) Bacon (34), Cornhill Road, Carlton, Nottingham. Ada Jefford (40) and Lydia Jefford (47), 23 Ortzen Street, Nottingham.
William, a lace manufacturer (own account) and his wife were living at 37 Waterloo Promenade in 1901. Four of their children were sill living in the home: Lydia (28), Sidney (25) a lace maker, Ada (22) a clerk and Elizabeth (17). Ann died in January 1910. William was still living at the same address in 1911 with his two daughters, Lydia and Ada, and also a granddaughter Ida Ellen Jefford (b. 1905 JFM Nottm, mother's maiden name Woolley).
They had moved to 23 Ortzen Street by 1919 and William was still living there in 1921 with his granddaughter, Ida. Both William and Ida worked for Birkin & Co, Ida in the Levers draughting room and her grandfather as a lace draughtsman. Ada, a cashier for J Hardy & Co., was recorded on the night of the census as a visitor in the household of James and Sophia Nutt who lived on Porchester Road, Carlton.
Lydia died in October 1921 and her father William in December 1923 aged 80. Ada may have been living on Oliver Street, Nottingham, in 1939 and may have died in March 1963.
Ellen had married John Thomas Newton, a printer compositor, at Nottingham All Saints on 12 September 1892 and they and their son, Sidney Albert (b. 1893) were living at 13 Berkley Street in 1901. They had moved to 31 Waterloo Promenade by 1911 and later lived at 158 Lenton Boulevard. John died in January 1948 and Ellen continued to live at 158 Lenton Boulevard until her death in March 1956. They were survived by their son.
Elizabeth married Clarence Clifford Bacon in 1904 and they had two children, John Leslie and Margaret Ethel. In 1911 they living on Second Avenue, Carlton, in 1911. They were recorded at 229 Standhill Road, Woodthorpe, in 1939. Clarence died in July 1943; he was survived by his wife and children. Elizabeth has not yet been traced after this date.
Sidney married Eveline Rebecca Newham (b. 1883) in February 1918; they lived at 5 Speeckley Street.. He died on 16 February 1927 and was buried in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. His widow later moved to Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, where she died in November 1948. Ida Ellen (Jefford) died in 1991 (reg. Nottingham).
Henry Simpson attested on 13 January 1892 on a Short Service Engagement (7 years with the Colours, 5 years with the Reserve). He was aged 18y 9m. occupation draughtsman. His father, William, of 9 Lake Street, Radford, was named as his next of kin.
Henry was posted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps (Depot) and joined at Winchester on 15 January 1892, then posted to the 3rd Battalion on 4 April 1892. However, his service record shows that on 20 December 1894 he was held awaiting trial and subsequently convicted and imprisoned by WCM [Court Martial] on 3 January 1895. Henry was discharged from the Army on 16 January 1895 for 'misconduct' by Authority of GOC-SD a/13297?, Portsmouth. He forfeited 126 days service and none of his service time (3y 4d) counted toward pension which was forfeit.
Henry enlisted at Nottingham on 21 August 1915 on a Short Service Engagement (Duration of War). He was aged 38y 4m, occupation clerk. He lived at 72 Querneby Road, Mapperley, and named his wife Fanny, of the same address, as his next of kin.
He was posted to the 13th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and joined at Winchester on 25 August, then posted to Bellins Park 2 September 1915-20 September 1915 and to Seaford 20 September 1915-22 December 1915.
Henry disembarked France on 23 December 1915 and appointed unpaid lance corporal on 21 February 1916.
Henry was tried by Field General Court Martial in the field, 27 March 1916. Offence: When on active service drunkeness on duty. Finding: Guilty. Sentence: 90 days FP No.2. Finding and Sentence: confirmed by Brig Gen, RWR Barnes DSO, 111 Infy Bde. Time in confinement awaiting trial: 12.30pm 19 March 1916 until morning of 27 March 1916.
He was appointed paid lance corporal on 24 July 1916.
Henry was killed in action on 1 August 1916 and is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery (grave ref. X. F. 17). The history of the Cemetery indicates that his grave was brought in after the Armistice.
Henry qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of Cemetery (extract): 'Caterpillar Valley was the name given by the army to the long valley which runs West to East, past 'Caterpillar Wood', to the high ground at Guillemont. Longueval village is on the northern crest of this valley and 500 metres west of the village, on the south side of the road to Contalmaison, is Caterpillar Valley Cemetery.
Caterpillar Valley was captured during a successful night assault by the 3rd, 7th and 9th Divisions on Bazentin Ridge on 14 July 1916. It was lost in the German advance of March 1918 and recovered by the 38th (Welsh) Division on 28 August 1918, when a little cemetery was made (now Plot 1 of this cemetery) containing 25 graves of the 38th Division and the 6th Dragoon Guards. After the Armistice, this cemetery was hugely increased when the graves of more than 5,500 officers and men were brought in from other small cemeteries, and the battlefields of the Somme. The great majority of these soldiers died in the autumn of 1916 and almost all the rest in August or September 1918.' (www.cwgc.org). The website lists the cemeteries and battlefields from which graves were removed.
Henry's brother, Sidney, attested in the RAF on 19 October 1918 (309374). He was 43 years old, occupation warehouseman. He named his wife Eveline Rebecca, 5 Speeckley Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin and the record also names a child, Ida Ellen (b. January 1905). He served at Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Sidney transferred to the RAF Reserve on 11 March 1919 and was deemed to have been discharged on 30 April 1920.
CWGC Additional information: Husband of Fanny Jefford, of 72, Querneby Rd. Mapperley, Nottingham.
From Army service record: Letter dated 14 August 1916 from Fanny Jefford, 72 Querneby Road: ‘Dear Sir, I was told some days ago that my husband Lce-Corpl Henry Jefford, No. 15173 ‘A’ Coy 13th Batt. King’s Royal Rifles, was killed on August 1st, 1916. I have received no official news of this, and I should be very grateful indeed if you could let me know if this is true. Yours truly, Mrs F Jefford.' (No record of a reply survives.)
Henry's personal property was returned to his widow at Querneby Road: w.watch & strap, knife, 2 pocket books, photos.
Pension Record: his widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week commencing 12 February 1917.
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 12 August 1916: 'Jefford. Killed in action, August 1st, Lance-Corpl. H. Jefford, King's Royal Rifles, Querneby-road, son of William Jefford, 23, Ortzen-street. Sorrowing father, sisters, and brother.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 15, 16 August 1916: 'Jefford. Killed in action, August 1st, Lance-Corpl. Harry Jefford, beloved husband of Fanny Jefford, 72, Querneby-road, Mapperley. Never forgotten by his sorrowing wife.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 1 August 1917:
'Jefford. In loving memory of Lance-Corporal Harry Jefford, King's Royal Rifles, of 72, Querneby-road, Mapperley, killed in action August 1st, 1916. Sadly missed. From loving wife.'
'Jefford. In loving memory of Lance-Corporal H. Jefford, killed in action August 1st, 1916. Not forgotten. Dad, brothers, and sisters.'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 18 October 1921: 'Jefford. On the 16th inst., at the General Hospital after a short but painful illness, Lydia, second daughter of William Jefford, of 23 Ortzen-street. Peace after pain.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 February 1927: ‘Jefford. At General Hospital, February 16th, Sidney, beloved husband of Eveline Jefford. Funeral Monday, 2 o’clock Church Cemetery.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 19 November 1948: ‘Jefford. November 17th, Eveline wife of Sydney and sister of Martha, Jack and Herbert Newham, passed away. Service Burton Joyce Church, 1 o’clock. Interment Rock Cemetery, 11 o’clock Saturday. At rest.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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Additional research/record updated RF (July 2026)
H S Jefford
Buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France. Photograph Murray Biddle.