Harry Strong
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Harry was the son of Harry Strong and Annie Witts. Harry snr. was probably born in 1868 (birth registered J/F/M Nottingham) and was probably the son of Thomas and Martha Strong. Annie Witts was born on 11 November 1872 (O/N/D Radford) and in 1881 was living along with her siblings at 77 Salisbury Street, Nottingham, with their mother Emma Witts who was married but head of household. According to the 1911 Census, Harry and Annie had been married for 19 years and had had seven children of whom six had survived infancy/childhood. However, no record of a marriage has yet been found and at least one child was registered in the surname 'Witts'. Six children were recorded on the 1901 to 1911 Census: Grace Strong Witts b. Sneinton birth registered 1895 (J/F/M Nottingham), Harry Strong b. Meadows 1898 (A/M/J Basford), Catherine b. Basford birth registered 1900 (J/F/M Nottingham), Maureen b. Basford 1905 (A/M/J Nottingham), Jack b. Basford 3 April 1907 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Maria b. Basford 1909 (O/N/D Nottingham). The birth registrations of Catherine and Maria give the mother's maiden name as Witts. In 1901 Harry (33) b. Sneinton, single, and a coal miner hewer, was living at 13 High Street, Seeley Row, Old Basford, with Annie Witts (28) b. Lenton, single, and his housekeeper, and his children Grace (6), Harry (2), Catherine (1), all with the surname Strong. By 1911 they were living at 63 Mill Street, Old Basford, Nottingham; Annie used the surname Strong and both she and Harry were described as married. Harry (45) was still working as a miner hewer. All six of their surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: Grace (16), a lace hand plain net mender, Harry (13), Catherine (12), Maureen (6), Jack (4) and Maria (1). According to documents in their son's army service record, Harry and Annie were living at 11 Prior Terrace, High Street, Old Basford, by 1918. Harry snr. probably died in 1934 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 68. In 1939 at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled, Annie Strong, described as a widow, occupation unpaid domestic duties, was living at 11 Prior Terrace, Old Basford, Nottingham, with her son Jack, an unemployed hosiery trimmer, and his wife Irene (b. 16 March 1910), an ironer. Jack and Irene nee Glover had married in 1937 (A/M/J Nottingham). Jack died in 1992 (J/F/M Nottingham) Annie Strong died in 1963 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 91.
Private Harry Strong, 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, Harry attested on 12 October 1916 at the age of 18 years 4 months. He was transferred to the 13th Bn Training Reserve, later transferring to the Northamptonshire Regiment on 20 March 1917. He embarked at Folkestone on 23 May 1917, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. It appears that he was wounded on 4 August 1917 but was able to rejoin his battalion the following day, 5 August. Harry was killed in action on 13th November 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 104 to 105). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His mother, Annie Strong, was his legatee. Notice of his death published 14th November 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “STRONG. – Killed in action, November 13th, 1917, Pte. Harry Strong, Northamptons. He answered duty's call.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘1914-1918’, 13 November 1936: ‘Strong. Loving memory, Private Harry Strong, killed in action 1917. Mother, Jack.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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