Henry Atkin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Henry (also 'Harry') was born in 1890 (A/M/J Spilsby Lincs), the son of Thomas and Fanny Atkin. At the time of the 1911 Henry was living with his family at 44 Alexandra Road, Skegness. His parents, Thomas (55) a builder's labourer, and Fanny (54) had been married for 27 years and had had six children of whom only five were still living. In the household on the night of the census were their son Jack (26) a builder's labourer, his wife of one year, Emily (24) and their son Arthur Henry (under 1 year), and Thomas and Fanny's other four children, Harry (21) a labourer (scavenging) for the Urban District Council, Arthur (18) a labourer, Kitty (14) a laundry maid, and Jessie (11). The later CWGC record gives his parents' address as 13 Alexandra Road, Skegness. Henry married Eliza Hempstock in 1912 (A/M/J Nottingham); they had one child, Phyllis. The widowed Eliza married Leonard Holmes in 1918 (A/M/J Nottingham) and the CWGC record gives her address as 5 West Terrace, Sherwood Street, Nottingham.
Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Henry is commemorated on a memorial in Skegness Methodist Church, Algitha Road, Skegness. Dedication: ‘To the glory of God and in memory of the men connected with this church and congregation who fell in the Great War 1914-19 (26 names)’ His name is also on the Skegness war memorial and inscribed in the Lincolnshire Regiment Roll of Honour in Lincoln Cathedral. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his wife Eliza was his legatee.
