A Son of Somerset.
Major Harry David Westbury West Somerset Yeomanry, Royal Engineers, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial'. Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.
The Man Harry David Westbury was born on 10th May 1893 at Bridgewater, Somerset. Son of Harry and Mary Anne, he lived with his family, including his maternal Grandparents, David Richard and Mary Brock, at 47 St. John Street, Bridgewater, Somerset. Harry’s father’s occupation was given as a builder and carpenter. Little is known of his early life, but on 24th November 1908 aged 15 he was registered as a Temporary Boy Clerk, Male Learner with the Post Office in Bridgwater. Harry also enlisted into the West Somerset Yeomanry with service number 711 and at the outbreak of World War 1 aged 21, he transferred into the Royal Engineers as a Sapper and a new service number of 142313. It is possible he enlisted as part of the Telegraph Division if he still worked with the Post Office at this time. During March 1915 he married his first wife, Zillah B Kerslake at Bridgewater and a few months later on 6th December 1915 was posted to France where it seems he remained for the duration of the War. For theses services he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, 1914-1918 British War and Victory Medals. Harry was transferred to the Z Class Reserve on 26th March 1919. It would have been around this time that he was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal for 12 years volunteer service with the Territorial Force. On Saturday 12th April 1924 aged 31 Harry was Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment , Territorial Army, with service number 28378. He was promoted to Lieutenant two years later in 1926, Captain on 26th January 1930 and Major on 1st January 1936.At some time Harry transferred to the 69th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Anti Aircraft Brigade and on 24th September 1937 was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’, representing a further 12 years service with the TA and indicating that between the end of world War 1 and his re-enlistment in April 1924 he may not have been involved with the armed forces. On 5th February 1939 aged 45 and in anticipation of the outbreak of World War 2 Harry was again transferred from the Royal Warwicks and into the Royal Artillery Light Anti Aircraft Unit on the Special List and retaining his rank as Major. He served in the United Kingdom during the War and nothing is known of his postings or appointments, however following the end of hostilities he retired from the TA on 18th August 1945 aged 52 having exceeded the age limit. He was awarded the 1939-1945 British War and Defence Medals. Little else is known about Harry’s life except that he did at some time separate from Zillah or she may have died and that between April and Jun 1956 he re-married Ethel Holt at Weston Super Mare. He was also a Civil Servant and lived with Ethel at 1a Rectory Road, Burnham on Sea, Somerset until his death on 24th March 1971 aged 78. He left £14,353.00 and was survived by Ethel.
The Story This interesting group of awards were acquired on E-Bay on 10th June 2008, the miniature group being purchased separately from the same vendor. At the date of writing the only information gathered is included in the brief biography above. The sources have been the London Gazette, which provided details of Harry’s military career and initial details of him joining the Post Office during the very early part of the 20th Century. Harry’s will and that of his wife Ethel were extracted from the Family Records Division, Holborn in London and provided further detail and latterly ancestry.com revealed Harry's birth details from the 1901 census and his two marriages to Zillah and Ethel.
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and latterly ancestry.com revealed Harry's birth details from the 1901 census and his two marriages to Zillah and Ethel.There are some further possible leads from the two wills, but as Harry died in 1971 and Ethel in 1985, the latter being 24 years ago at the time of writing it is possible that these may well have moved on or indeed died themselves. All that said, a good interesting long service group, and considering Harry’s World War 2 service it is very likely that he would have been entitled to a further two long service clasps to his TD! Despite the lack of real ‘flesh’ on the bone, this story proves what can be achieved from relatively simple and easily available sources.
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The West Somerset Yeomanry
The earliest troop, raised in 1794, was in Bridgwater. Four years later this and other troops formed the West Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. The Regiment served in the Boer War as part of the 7th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry, where their steadiness under fire earned them the popular name of "The Fighting 25th". Their badge also bears the honour "South Africa 1900-01". During World War I, the Regiment served with ANZAC as Royal Horse Artillery. After service in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine they went to the Western Front in 1918. They were retitled the 12th Battalion The Somerset LI and fought as infantry in France and Flanders. In 1920 they were formed into two batteries of the 55th (Wessex) Field Brigade Royal Artillery. During World War II, they served in many parts of England until D-Day plus 21 when, as part of the Guards Armoured Division, they arrived in Normandy and fought through to Cuxhaven in Germany. They therefore served as Gunners from the end of World War I until 1967, when they merged with The Somerset Light Infantry (TA) to form The Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry
The earliest troop, raised in 1794, was in Bridgwater. Four years later this and other troops formed the West Somerset Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. The Regiment served in the Boer War as part of the 7th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry, where their steadiness under fire earned them the popular name of "The Fighting 25th". Their badge also bears the honour "South Africa 1900-01". During World War I, the Regiment served with ANZAC as Royal Horse Artillery. After service in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine they went to the Western Front in 1918. They were retitled the 12th Battalion The Somerset LI and fought as infantry in France and Flanders. In 1920 they were formed into two batteries of the 55th (Wessex) Field Brigade Royal Artillery. During World War II, they served in many parts of England until D-Day plus 21 when, as part of the Guards Armoured Division, they arrived in Normandy and fought through to Cuxhaven in Germany. They therefore served as Gunners from the end of World War I until 1967, when they merged with The Somerset Light Infantry (TA) to form The Somerset Yeomanry and Light Infantry
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: 142313 SPR H.D.WESTBURY R.E.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 142313 SPR H.D.WESTBURY R.E.
- Victory Medal: 143413 SPR H.D.WESTBURY R.E.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as issued.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued.
- Efficiency Decoration: Unnamed as issued.
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal: 143413 SPR H.D.WESTBURY R.E.
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This page last updated 11 Nov 14