John Fitzhenry was originally came from Welshpool where he was born in 1892. He was the fourth child, and only boy with 7 sisters, of John and Elizabeth Fitzhenry. His father and mother had both been market hawkers but by 1901 his father was working as a fishmonger in Welshpool when he and the 8 children were living at 17 Raven Street. His mother, however, is recorded as a boarder living at 3 Southall Buildings, Willow Street, Oswestry but by 1911 is back at Welshpool working as a housekeeper for a Thomas Gardner. In 1913, his father would die and a few years later his mother married her former employer.  In the meantime John, in 1910, had joined the army serving in King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He went to France with the battalion in September 1914. About a year later, in 1915, John married Elizabeth Lila Yeadon at Oswestry and they set up home at 108 Willow Street.

John and Elizabeth spent little time together as a married couple. John would have soon  had to return to the front and it is unlikely he would have had another leave. About a year later he was KIA, on 25 September 1916, at Morval Ridge during the Somme Offensive. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His commanding officer wrote to his widow – ‘I always found him very brave and ready to do anything that was wanted, at the same time he was cheerful and a great help to his companions’. Elizabeth would remarry in 1919. John is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and on Welshpool War Memorial.

KIA same day and action   Private 17549 Herbert Price, 1 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, KIA 25 September 1916, Thiepval Memorial (unknown)

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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