| Service # | 751752 / 213500 |
Regimental number: 751752/213500. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box: 1681 – 8, Item: 99312, PDF B1681-S008. Date of Birth: 21/03/1897, Heachem, Norfolk, England. The son of Mrs. E. Jewell, Heacham E.C. c/o: Allendale Bungalow, High St., Norfolk, Eng. Harry was living in Wheatley, c/o William Wharram of Wheatley.
Attestation: 5/01/1916 to 241st Battalion.
Regimental number: 751752 / 213500. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box: 1681-8, Item No. 99312. Date of Birth: 7/03/1899 in England. The son of Mrs. Agnes Jewell, Allendale Bungalow, High St., Hescham, Norfolk, England.
Curators note: His height differs from 5’ 2 ½ ” to 5’ 7”, which makes me believe he may have been a British Home Child.
He was living and working at the farm of William Wharram of Wheatley, Kent Co., ON. Harrys first enlistment at Kingsville, ON. 5/01/1916 at the age of 18. On his second enlistment in Kingsville he is 5’ 4”. The minimum height was at the time was 5’/ 3”. Perhaps he wore his work boots when his height was measured. He also had a tattoo on his right forearm.
On his first try to get overseas, he embarked in Canada 1/11/1916 and arrived in England 11/11/1916. It was then that they discovered he was underage. On his second try, he embarked from Canada 28/04/17 and arrived in England at Liverpool 7/05/17.
He made it to England only to be transferred to the “Young Soldiers Battalion” at Bexhill on the south coast of England (Kings Regulations 86 – under age). On his second attestation, it indicates that he had spent six months with the 99th Battalion and six months with the 161st Battalion.
He served with the 3rd Battalion then age 20 and 5’ 7”. His “Casualty Form – Active Service ” reports that Harry was a casualty of a German gas shell and was transferred back to England 19/10/18 for treatment.
Harry was discharged 8/04/1919.
Curators note: It was not uncommon for young English boys to want to go back to England and see their family and many lied about their age to get into the Army for a free trip overseas.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | B. Siddle, LAC |
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