Henry James (Harry)
Urry was born in the parish of St John’s, Lewes on 18th May 1891. He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living at
21 Sun Street, St John’s with his family. The
household comprised: Richard Urry (head, aged 47, a self-employed coal merchant), his wife Naomi Urry (aged 42) and five children:
Richard W Urry (aged 19, working as a coal porter), Gertrude Urry (aged 14), John Urry (aged 12), Nelson Urry (aged 11) and
Harry (aged nine).
Harry enlisted
in The Royal Naval Air Service at Portsmouth on 28th May 1915 for the duration of hostilities. He was five feet nine and
a half inches tall, had black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. It was
noted that he had a large wart on the centre of his chest.
He gave his occupation
as chauffeur and was given the rating of air mechanic 1st class and the number F5127. He was posted to HMS President.
Chailey Parish Magazine notes in August 1915 that he is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 that he is
in the Dardanelles with “Aero Wing”.
The following month the magazine notes that he is with the RNAS and in August 1916 that he has been wounded.
The wound does
not appear to have been too serious. There is no mention of it in his surviving
service reords and by 30th April 1917 he was in
Dunkirk, France and latterly
Boulogne at an aircraft depot.
On 1st April 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force and given the
service number 205127. He gave his next of kin as his mother, Naomi (although
this is written as “father” on his Air Force service record) who was still living at 21 Sun Street, Lewes. On 1st July 1918 he was promoted to coproral mechanic and remained in this role until his demob and transfer to the RAF Reserve on
21st
May 1919.
Harry Urry was
entitled to the British War and Victory Medals and these were despatched to him on 4th May 1922.
Harry Urry’s
connection with Chailey is unknown.
Sources and Acknowledgements
- 1901 Census of England and Wales
- Partial service records exist at The National Archives in London under the references ADM 188/570 (covering his time with the RNAS) and AIR 79/1847 (covering his time with the RAF)
- Chailey Parish Magazine
