Wheeler Staff Sergeant Henry Harper (died 30 May 1916) and father Thomas Harper

[ewontner]

Hi there. I am currently researching the life of Wheeler Staff Sergeant Henry Harper who died in WW1 on 30 May 1916. He was married to Emily Brooke and they married on 13 April 1901 in Christchurch, Hampshire. According to his wedding certificate his father was "Thomas Harper" a shoemaker and he isn't listed as deceased. This is leaving me feeling a bit confused as from searching out records, I think his father might be Thomas Harper, innkeeper of Duke of York Pub, Frodsham Street, Chester (who died in 1887). Looking for the power of the crowd to identify the true origins of Henry Harper - so that I can determine what his real family origins are.


https://boardoftradewarmemorial.wordpress.com - see entry - https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20070604034733/http://www.dti.gov.uk/about/aboutus/warmemorial/ww1/indexd/page30069.html (I think the 1901 family connection is incorrect)

Also why would someone serving with the Royal Field Artillery be listed as "accidentally drowned" or "died at sea".

Thanks in advance.
Ed

[heywood]

There is a Thomas Harper, Cordwainer (shoemaker) in Chester in 1851 2172/ 293/4
He is a widower. Going through censuses, there seem to be a couple of Henrys born to him.

In 1881 3554 /125/27
He is an innkeeper with a son Henry, 16 yrs

Fathers are not always mentioned as ‘deceased’ on marriage certificates.

[Andy J2022]

If it's of any help, a Wheeler was someone who repaired and maintained the gun carriages, limbers etc. The civilian equivalent was a wheelwright. Therefore I would have expected Staff Sergeant Harper to possibly have had a civilian trade prior to joining the army which had similar skills, such as a carpenter, coach builder or wheelwright. It's highly unlikely that he would have had a completely unrelated trade like a baker or shoemaker. Since he had reached the rank of staff sergeant it implies he had been in the Army for some time, say a minimum of 8 -10 years. Possibly he was a career soldier and that's where he learned his trade of wheeler.

[ALAMO2008]

Hi there. I am currently researching the life of Wheeler Staff Sergeant Henry Harper who died in WW1 on 30 May 1916. He was married to Emily Brooke and they married on 13 April 1901 in Christchurch, Hampshire. According to his wedding certificate his father was "Thomas Harper" a shoemaker and he isn't listed as deceased. This is leaving me feeling a bit confused as from searching out records, I think his father might be Thomas Harper, innkeeper of Duke of York Pub, Frodsham Street, Chester (who died in 1887). Looking for the power of the crowd to identify the true origins of Henry Harper - so that I can determine what his real family origins are.


https://boardoftradewarmemorial.wordpress.com - see entry - https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20070604034733/http://www.dti.gov.uk/about/aboutus/warmemorial/ww1/indexd/page30069.html (I think the 1901 family connection is incorrect)

Also why would someone serving with the Royal Field Artillery be listed as "accidentally drowned" or "died at sea".

Thanks in advance.
Ed

His Soldiers Effects 51249  says Accidently Drowned
 Doesn't say at Sea
Mostly likely it meant he wasn't Shot or Shelled but fell off the Duck Boards into the Ponds alongside in the Mud
Or likely because it says Accidently
 he was possibly moving an Artillery Gun and got stuck in a Shell Hole and trapped under the wheel in water and drowned because his Mates couldn't move the gun off him in time.

[ALAMO2008]

His Soldiers Effects War Gratuity was awarded £12 :10s
Which based on Service Length
Confirms Andy Theory that he was in the Army pre War
He went Overseas 31/05/1915

[heywood]

If it's of any help, a Wheeler was someone who repaired and maintained the gun carriages, limbers etc. The civilian equivalent was a wheelwright. Therefore I would have expected Staff Sergeant Harper to possibly have had a civilian trade prior to joining the army which had similar skills, such as a carpenter, coach builder or wheelwright. It's highly unlikely that he would have had a completely unrelated trade like a baker or shoemaker. Since he had reached the rank of staff sergeant it implies he had been in the Army for some time, say a minimum of 8 -10 years. Possibly he was a career soldier and that's where he learned his trade of wheeler.

1901 1037 /181/2
Henry Harper single  25 yrs  Bombardier (RHA) Wheeler b Chester

It's highly unlikely that he would have had a completely unrelated trade like a baker or shoemaker.

It was his father who was a shoemaker.

[ALAMO2008]

Isn't that what Andy said
He was a Wheelwright in the Army before the War and didn't follow his Dad as Cordwainer ?

[heywood]

Oh, beg your pardon. I obviously misunderstood. There is nothing to say what his trade was before the censuses.
I thought a Wheeler was different to a wheelwright.
I was trying to show that, yes, he was a career soldier.

[ewontner]

Thanks for the help so far. I am particularly keen to work out whether who I think is Henry's father is correct or not. If Thomas Harper was a cordwainer in 1851 maybe its the same person and he later worked as an innkeeper.

According to Henry's "UK, Soldiers Died in Great War entry" he IS recorded as "died at sea".
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/381343:1543?ssrc=pt&tid=116702037&pid=390174665042 - I am guessing that's an error.

Then in his record of personal effects he is listed as "accidentally drowned.

Henry was previously in the army before WW1. He was based at Christchurch Barracks and there is a record for him at Royal Hospital Chelsea dated 1912. I haven't seen the actual record only the index record.