Hello,
Just wondering if anyone could poiny me in the right direction, I am just starting some research on behalf of my mother-in-law to be.
I am trying to find some details about HENRY HARRISON (born 2nd October 1914 in North Wingfield Derbyshire to Thomas and Frances Harrison). He married in October 1937 in Chesterfield and shortly after enlisted in the SHERWOOD FORESTERS regiment.
And this is where the mystery begins. My mother-in-law knows little else about his service in WWII other than he was capured in the 'far east' and presumed dead. Years later he returned to Derbyshire as a "walking skeleton" and all he would say of his whole experience was that he was sent to work on the Burma Railway, he died having never spoke again of it.
Anyway, I have started by getting in touch with the Sherwood Foresters regiment who sent a wonderfully thorough reply back, but had no luck in finding him. Their response is below.
Thank you for you email regarding Henry Harrison.
Unfortunately we do not hold the personal records of officers and soldiers who have served with us. These are held either by the National Archives at Kew or the Army Records Centre Glasgow (depending on when they served). However, we do have a large (although incomplete) data base of officers and soldiers, made up from information taken from hundreds documents, mainly contained within the regimental archives and information provided by family members.
I am afraid I have no details on our data base for a Henry Harrison who served with our Regiment for around that time. There has been a book published called "FIRST IN LAST OUT" A history of the 1st/5th Territorial Battalion The Sherwood Foresters 1939-1946 by C. Housley who were captured in Singapore many of them being put to work on the famous railway by the Japanese. Local libraries were given copies and they are often found on the internet. It mentions five Harrison's who were captured but none with the name Henry or even H. There is an A, B, E, Jack and an N.
Ideally to trace him you should try to find his army number as Records of Service for soldiers who left the Army after 1920 belong to the Government and are subject to the Data Protection Act. Information can be released to certain categories of personnel and you should contact the Army Personnel Centre (Historical), Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX. They will reply providing information free to the ex-soldier or their spouse, but others will be required to pay a fee (currently £30)
I am sorry I am unable to be more positive in my reply but wish you every success with any further research you may undertake. If you cannot find a copy of the book you can always make an appointment to visit us here at the archives at Chilwell to read a copy.
I am just wondering what my next step should be, especially if my mother in law doesn't know his army number?
Any help greatfully recieved.
