Henry Ivor Housley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Henry Ivor Housley was born in 1895 at Underwood and was the only son of Walter, a miner/contractor, and Emily Housley née Hallam of Main Street Newthorpe Nottinghamshire. His father Walter was born in 1865 in Selston and his mother Emily Hallam was born in 1872 at Newthorpe. They were married in 1891; the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. They went on to have the following children: Lucy b1891 Henry Ivor b1895, Kate Emily b1898, Edith Dorcas b1905 and Hilda b1908, all were born in Newthopre. In the 1911 census the family are living at Mill Lane, Newthorpe, and are shown as Walter 46yrs a miner contractor, who is living with his wife Emily 39 yrs and their children, Henry Ivor 15 yrs a miner ganger (underground) Kate Emily 13 yrs a scholar and Edith Dorcas 5 yrs a scholar.
Private Henry Ivor Housley enlisted at Nottingham on 11th September 1914, standing 5' 7" and weighing 130 lbs. He gave his age as 19 yrs and 350 days and stated that he was a coal miner and lived at Main Street, Newthorpe. His next of kin was his mother Emily of the same address. He was posted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps and joined them at their barracks at Winchester. He was posted to 'D' Company 12th battalion on 15th October 1914. Henry landed in France on 23rd July 1915. He was wounded in action on 24th August 1915 and died a week later on 31st August 1915. He is buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, Nord, France grave reference III. U.10
CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Lest we forget' Housley's personal effects - a bible, letters, photos, cap badge, knife lanyard and two notebooks - were returned to his mother. His mother acknowledged receipt with thanks but added' my son certainly possessed a watch and leather backed mirror in addition. If you can trace these I shall be glad.' (ASR)
