Henry Harris

 Following the First World War, there was the worldwide Pandemic of 1918, with the outbreak of Spanish flu.  The flu broke out in March 1918, in Kansas, United States.  By April, there were cases recorded in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Two years later it is estimated that a third of the global population of 500 million people had been infected in four successive waves, and those that died from the influenza are thought to have numbered between 17 to 50 million worldwide.

Henry Harris
Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard
credit - findagrave

One of those who sadly died from influenza was Henry Harris, 22^nd November 1918, aged 24.  He was the seventh military burial at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard.  There isn't a military headstone

Lance Bombardier Henry Harris served with Royal Field Artillery, “A” Battery, 348^th Brigade.

Henry born in 1894, was the son of Thomas Benjamin and Catherine Harries nee. Evans.  They were married in January 1887 at St. John-juxta Church, Swansea.  The marriage certificate shows that neither of them was able to sign and they marked with a X.

Thomas Benjamin Harries and Catherine Evans
marriage certificate 
St. John-juxta Church, Swansea

By the 1901 Census, Thomas and Catherine were residing at Cockett.  Thomas, 32, was employed as a Tin Plate – Doubler. They had two sons, Henry, 7, and 2-year-old William Glyndwr.  The census records the surname as Harries

1901 Census

The 1911 Census records that the family has moved to Ty Gwyn, Cockett.  Thomas, 42, employed as Tin Plate Worker Rollerman; Catherine, 39.  Their sons, Henry, 17, who is employed as a Boot Maker; Wm. Y., 12 and Dd. B., 12, who are both at school. The census records the surname as Harris

1911 Census

Henry enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery and had been in France since December 1916, before he was gassed in November 1917.  Whilst he was a patient at Grimsby military hospital, he died in November 1918.

The Cambria Daily Leader, reports his death and it states that Henry, was married and a father of two children. Also, he had a boot and shoemaker business in Sketty.

The Cambria Daily Leader

Henry was married in June 1913, to Ada M. Longden.  They had two children, Leslie, 1913, and Ronald, 1916.