Albert Edward Henry (known as Harry) was born in Devonport in 1902, not far from the naval base that would be a significant part of his life. In 1916, at the age of just 14, he enlisted as a Royal Marine as a boy bugler. He was just 4 foot 10 inches tall.
He worked on a number of ships including HMS Valiant, Carysfort as well as being part of the Plymouth Divison, based in Devonport. He discharged from full service in 1928 but enrolled in the reserves immediately for another 5 years, but actually remained until 1942. He continued in various roles including training into the second World War. He received the British War and Victory medals from the first World War and received the Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1935.
Harry married twice. His first wife Winifred Helen HILLS, a nursery nurse, died in 1945 from TB which she had picked up from her first marriage when both her husband and baby daughter contracted and died from the disease.
Harry and Win had one child, Derek. At the time of Derek’s birth, Harry was working as a Licensed Victualler (someone who sells alcohol) in Devonport, Devon, alongside his military roles. They lived at 26 John Street, Devonport. They managed the Freemason’s Arms in John Street, which I have been lead to believe had a bomb land in the beer garden during the blitz of Plymouth.
In 1946 Harry married Ivy Amelia COLDRIDGE in Plymouth. They later moved to Topsham, Devon where they both lived until their deaths.