Joy Phillips' Notes

        Handwritten notes by Joy Phillips but at the end of the main part she wrote “Written by Albert Harris [Thomas George Henry’s second son]”
        
        He was born at WORCESTER on 28th January 1887 and baptised at St. Peter’s Church, Worcester.
        
        On the 17th day of December 1898 has a LABOUR CERTIFICATE to say that at not less than 11 years of age he had reached the FIFTH STANDARD.  At that time he was living at Grove Cottage, Rainbow Hill, Worcester.
        
        Later having left school he served an Apprenticeship as a MOULDER. On completion of his apprenticeship he had to leave the firm and endeavour to find employment elsewhere.  Failing to do so, after walking to BIRMINGHAM with only a penny in his pocket, he enlisted at WORCESTER in the ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS on the 21st August 1908.  He was called up to Aldershot on the 25th August 1908 and with a Third Class Certificate of Education he passed out on the 21st December 1908. His period of Engagement was for three years with the Colours and nine year on Reserve.
        
        On completion of his three years he returned to civilian life (1911).
        
        Having been advised that there was a job available at ROTHERHAM on the Railway, he came to Masborough (sic) and obtained the job as a good checker and shortly afterwards was able to rent a house at 83, Park Street, Rotherham.
        
        He married ADA MARY ANN MATTEY on the 6th day of April 1912 at St John in Bedwardine Parish Church in the City of Worcester.
        
        A son was born on the 12th July 1914 (George Thomas).  As the First World War broke out later that year Thomas George Henry, being an Army Reservist, was recalled to the Colours to complete his service.
        
        After service at Netley Military Hospital, near Southampton, he was posted to No 1 Casualty Clearing Station on the SOMME in France.
        
        The house in Rotherham was given up and ADA and her son, GEORGE, returned to Worcester to live at 2 Skinner Street, with her sister-in-law EMILY MATTEY whose husband was also serving in the Army in France.
        
        George Thomas Henry’s end of service with the Colour took place at North Camp, Riopn on 21st January 1919.  He returned to civilian life at 31 Garden Street, Rotherham, where ADA had rented a corner house next door to 83 Park Street!
        
        On the 11th July 1919 he received a CERTIFICATE of MERIT awarded by Major General H N Thompson DMS of the FIRST ARMY.
        
        A second son was born to Thomas and Ada on Palm Sunday, 28th March 1920 named ALBERT EDWARD.
        
        A third son was born on the 22nd August 1922 named ERNEST JOHN.
        
        G Thomas H. maintained his interest in First Aid being a member of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade Association for which he had the 20 and 25 year bars.
        
        He was also a member of the RAILWAY AMBULANCE TEAM for which he used to compete at DERBY for the Portland shield.  His team “Massborough”, were winners on the 19th February 1931 - each member received half a china tea service.  On other occasion the team received, as 1st Prize, a silver-plated cakestand and on 5th January 1931 there was a Celebration Dinner (there was a photograph in the Sheffield Daily Independent Newspaper).
        
        In 1939 he enrolled in the HOMEGUARD and received the DEFENCE MEDAL.
        
        Between the Wars he continued to treat all and sundry with their accidents - broken arms, legs etc using his own home-made splints, which he padded, before dispatching them to hospital.
        
        His job now saw him in charge of special heavy movements across main railway lines. He refused promotion as it meant moving to Shipley.
        
        After the Second World War he was based mainly at THE FARM, Sheffield (the Wicker Arches Yard) as a travelling inspector picking up a train of heavy good at South Normanton, nr Chesterfield and seeing it safely to Normanton, nr Leeds.
        
        He won a Football League Medal in 1916/17.
        
        Written by Albert Harris (Thomas George Henry’s second son)
        
        On the rear is written
        Pte T Harris
        1879 RAMC
        ‘A’ Company
        NETTLEY
        
        From postcard sent by his sister, Miss C E Harris 1915
        
        THOMAS G H HARRIS
        (from a newspaper cutting 4 Jan 1952)
        Sidings Foreman at Wicker Goods Depot retired after 40 years service.  He lives at 31 Garden Street, Rotherham.  He joined the Midland Railway in 1911 at Rotherham.  He was promoted to FOREMAN in 1942 and took up his present position in 1944.  He is the holder of 22 years EFFICIENCY AWARDS in the St John Ambulance Organisation.
        
        Further Note
        When THOMAS retired his wife ADA wanted very badly indeed to return to her home city of Worcester.  TOM refused to move because he had many friends in Rotherham and Sheffield and also his great love of Rotherham United Football Club. After this he was expected to do all the housework, except the ironing!  Ada sat most of the day but later suffered from Parkinson’s Disease.  Ada’s parents (Mr and Mrs Mattey) lived in later years at The Laslett Arms Almshouses near Fargate Station, Worcester.