No.14729, Private, Harry James PORTWAY
Aged 24
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Harry James Portway was born in Steeple Bumpstead (Risbridge Q1-1892 4A:712), son of Joseph and Sarah PORTWAY (née CLARKE).
1901 census...Aged 9 , he was at North Street, Steeple Bumpstead with his father Joseph PORTWAY [40] chimney sweeper born Radwinter; his mother Sarah [45] born Birdbrook; sisters Winnie [12] and Hilda [4]; brother Charlie [10]. All the children were born in Steeple Bumpstead. There were two elder sisters, Emma [1886] and Lettice Miriam [1887]. 1911 census...Aged 19, a labourer, he was at Bow lodge, Steeple Bumpstead with his parents; sister Emma Millicent and nephew Edward James HOWARD [3], born Steeple Bumpstead, son of his sister Lettice HOWARD. |
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Harry enlisted in Colchester.
In the absence of his Army service record is is impossible to say when or where he was wounded, but his battalion suffered quite badly in an attack at TRONES WOOD on the 15th with at least 76 wounded. He was taken to the 2nd/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station at Meaulte, universally known to the troops as Grove Town, and now the name of the cemetery. The Haverhill Echo of 9th December 1916 reported that H Portway was wounded on the 15th in the chest and died the next day.One of the first to enlist he had already been wounded and only just returned to his unit. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details