Henry Underwood
- Family History
- Military History
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Henry Underwood was born on 18th September 1877 at Derby and worked as a carrier for the fruit trade he was the son of the late William (born 1835) and Rebecca Underwood née Pride (born 1834) Henry married Annie Stones (born 8th December 1878) on 21st November 1896 at St Lukes Church, Carlton Row, Nottingham, she worked as a lace hand. They had six children; Harry, born in 1901, Arthur, born in 1903 William, born in 1906, Ernest, born in 1908, Kate born 1911 and Lily born 1912 . All the children were born in Nottingham. The family lived at 34 Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family were living at 34 Upper Eldon Street, Nottingham, Henry 33 yrs is a carter, he is living with his wife Annie 30 yrs a lace hand and their 4 children. Commencing 6th December 1915 his widow was awarded a pension of 27 shillings a week.
Private Underwood volunteered for service on 14th August 1914 at Nottingham, giving his age as 34 yrs and 330 days, he was a carter, he had seen previous military service following training was drafted to France amongst a batch of replacements. He reached the battalion on 27/12/1914. Having survived the fighting at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 Pte. Underwood was involved in the fight at the Rouge Bancs north west of Fromelles, which took place on 09/05/1915. The Sherwood Foresters advanced but were soon under heavy machine gun fire. The wire had barely been cut and therefore the battalion was forced to fall back to their breastwork. A further attack was attempted, but again they were cut down by machine gunfire. At the end of the day 55 officers and men had been killed and 257 wounded. Pte. Underwood was amongst the wounded and was sent down the line to Merville Hospital, where he died on 11th May 191 and is buried at Merville Communal Cemetery.
In memoriam published 11th May 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- UNDERWOOD. – Died of wounds, May 11th, 1915, Private H. Underwood, Sherwood Foresters, aged 39 years. Died for England's glory. – His sorrowing wife, mother, child.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
