A Drummer Boy
Sergeant Drummer Harry Scrimshaw North Staffordshire Regiment Territorial Force
The Man Harry Scrimshaw was born on 20th November 1874, son of William, a Brewer’s Labourer and Emma and they lived at 6 Brook Street, Horninglow, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire. He was one of eight children, Amy Haines born in 1867, Charles Herbert born in 1869, William, born 1870, Ellen born 1873, Alice born 1877, Frederick born 1880 and Daniel born 1882. It appears that Harry enlisted into the 1st Volunteer Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment on 12th January 1892, joining their band and aged only 14 with service number 2311. By the time of the 1891 census Harry, now aged 16 was living with his family 228 Goodman Street, Burton and was working as a Brewer’s Labourer, having clearly followed in his Father’s footsteps. Ten years later the family were living in the same street but at number 223. Harry was promoted to Sergeant Drummer on 8th November 1902 and during the third quarter of 1903 aged 29 he married Frances Ann Potts, sadly Frances died in 1905 aged only 21, leaving Harry a Widower. Five years later on 3rd April 1908, after the formation of the Territorial Force on 1st April, which came about following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907, Harry transferred to the 6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment TF with service number 565. He was still described as a Labourer working for Bass and living at 96 Hunter Street, Burton. Harry signed up for one year, but was discharged at his own request on 30th November 1908 after only 241 days and having given three months notice. He was awarded his Volunteer Long Service Medal, listed in Army Orders of 1st January 1909. By the time of the 1911 census Harry was still a widower and living as a boarder with the Ashforth family at 71 Beech Lane, Stretton, Burton, still as a Brewer’s Worker. He re-married in the third quarter of 1913 to Mary Elizabeth Robinson, and following the outbreak of World War I, aged 39 plus was called up into the North Staffordshire Regiment as a Private with service number 240975, this was possibly as a conscripted soldier during 1916; he was subsequently awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals. In later life Harry lived at 3 Eton Road, and died on 30th April 1948 aged 74 at The General Infirmary still in Burton on Trent having lived there all his life. Probate was granted to his wife Mary.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Harry Scrimshaw were purchased from Solihull Arms Fair at St. John’s Hotel in 1980 and cost £30.00. They were the last set of medals acquired as a ‘young collector’ and are seen as the last group belonging to the ‘good old days’! They were the last medals purchased for the next 11 years until the Ordecomedology bug was re-ignited in 1991. It was not for a further 22 years however, 33 years after their initial acquisition that research was undertaken on ancestry.com and the brief biography prepared. By sheer chance during a visit to The National Archives in May 2013, Harry’s attestation papers were uncovered revealing yet more detail to help flesh out his biography. In 2018, 38 yeas after their acquisition, local North Staffordshire Collector, member of Birmingham Medal Society and friend Bill Walton located a number of photographs of the North Staffordshire band, together with the much sought after picture of Harry. To see all the pictures and how Harry was identified CLICK HERE. Many thanks to Bill for reuniting 'man and his medals' after 100 years. As a footnote the second (older) H Scrimshaw cannot be identified from Ancestry.UK or records.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 240975 PTE.H.SCRIMSHAW. N.STAFF.R.
- Victory Medal: 240975 PTE.H.SCRIMSHAW. N.STAFF.R.
- Volunteer Force Long Service Medal: 2311 SJT:DMR:H.SCRIMSHAW.2/V.B.N.STAFF;REGT
This page last updated 5 Jun 14