32967 Pte Harry Avery, 7th Norfolk Regiment

Harry Avery was born in Chailey around 1898.  When the 1901 census was taken, the family was living at 13 South Street, Chailey.  The family comprised Thomas Avery (head of the household, aged 48), his wife Caroline (42) and their seven children: Thomas (21), Edith (18), Rose (16), Frederick (13), Harriett (9), Arthur (6) and Harry (2).  Thomas senior worked as a carter on a farm.  His son Thomas was a brick-maker (presumably working at Norman’s, locally) and Edith worked as a general domestic servant.  The family also had a boarder, 22 year old Frank Funnell who worked as a labourer in at the local brickyard.

Harry Avery first appears in Chailey Parish Magazine in March 1916 where his name is one of several noted in a special list of attested men.  In April 1917 he appears again as Avery, Pte H, TR Batt.  In December 1917 he is noted as serving with the 3rd Norfolk Regiment and by January 1918 with the 7th Norfolk Regiment.  His last entry in the Parish Magazine appears in July 1919 where he is still noted as serving with the 7th Norfolk Regiment.  He was given the army number 32967.

The 7th Norfolk Regiment was a New Army Battalion formed at Lincoln in September 1914.  It formed part of the 51st Brigade in the 17th (Northern) Division throughout the war.

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembered Harry Avery as Henry Avery.

Another Avery, J Avery, also served in the First World War and it is possible that Harry was related to him.  Like Harry, his brothers Thomas and Arthur both served in the army during World War 1 and both survived.

St Peter's School - Honour List

Again, I am grateful to Ian Seccombe for drawing my attention to the photo above which appears on flickr and was taken by Jem Stone. I hope the link will be sufficient acknowledgement.

A number of the names here are familiar to me. Ernest Still served with the Royal Sussex Regiment and later the Labour Corps and would win the Military Medal during the 14-18 War. Henry Avery may be Harry Avery who later served with the 7th Norfolk Regiment. Arthur Carr served as a cadet with the Royal Air Force and Thomas Chatfield may be the same Thomas Chatfield who lost his life whilst serving with the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. Thomas Homewood may also be the same Thomas Homewood who was killed in action with the Royal Field Artillery on the 30th June. A Roll of Honour in more ways than one.