Harry Grimshaw Preston

War Service

Following the family tradition on the maternal side he joined the regular army in March 1927, serving with the 10th Royal Hussars, and by 1933 was stationed in India. He was discharged on medical grounds exactly 16 years to the day he joined in March 1943. He was wounded in the Western Desert and as a result became partially paralysed in his left arm and leg, becoming ‘no longer fit for service’. He underwent a term of rehabilitation in Dorset before returning to Ferrybridge.
Yorkshire Evening Post
“FERRYBRIDGE MAN GETS MILITARY MEDAL
For gallantry in the Libyan fighting last January Sgt Harry Preston (35), whose home is Vale Villas, Ferrybridge, has been awarded the Military Medal.
Junker 87’s began bombing the British at El Agheila and Sergeant Preston flung himself on top of a Captain and two men lying on the ground. He was struck on the head by a bomb fragment. Now his left leg and arm are partly paralysed. On March 23rd he was discharged from the Army, 16 years to the day after he first joined.
His brother John, a Major in the Australian Army, has been awarded the Military Cross in fighting against the Japs.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 16 April 1943 p1 (+ photo)
“MILITARY MEDALLIST
Ex Sergeant Harry Preston (35), late of the 10th Royal Hussars, whose home is Vale Villas, Ferrybridge, has been awarded the Military Medal. He was wounded at Knightsbridge, near Tobruk last year, and arrived in this country just before Christmas, with the first batch of Eighth Army wounded. He told the Express that on Jan 23rd last year Rommel was contacted near El Ageila. A terrific tank battle ensued, during which Sergt Preston was responsible for the evacuation of the wounded men. They were cut off by the enemy and had a two day journey across the desert to their own line. On the way they captured an enemy ambulance which was filled with the wounded. During the famous Knightsbridge box-battle on May 26th, Sergt Preston jumped into an American car, and drove to within 200 yards of two enemy tanks which were in action, to rescue a wounded Corporal. On the following day, while being bombed by Junker 87’s he foresaw danger for a Captain and two other men, one wounded. He immediately jumped over them, covered them with his own body, and was struck on the head by a bomb fragment. His left leg and arm are now partly paralysed; and Mr Preston was discharged from the Army in March - sixteen years to the day after he first joined. He expects to receive the medal from the King at Buckingham Palace next month. An elder brother, a Major in the Australian Army was awarded the MC last year; a younger brother has recently arrived in North Africa, and the youngest brother has just been called up.”
Pontefract & Castleford Express 28 May 1943 p4
“MEDAL FROM THE KING
Mr Harry G Preston of Vale Villas, Ferrybridge, formerly a Sergeant in the 10th Royal Hussars received the Military Medal from the King at Buckingham Palace last week. The King congratulated Mr Preston on his honour and talked for a long time with him. An account of how Mr Preston won the medal for bravery in the field was given in “The Express” on April 16th.”

Family Life

Harry Grimshaw Preston was born in York on 7th February 1906, the son of Laura Harriet Grimshaw who married George Blackburn Preston, and the family moved to Ferrybridge C1912. Laura was born on 25th January 1886 at Dover Castle and was the daughter of Antiochus Grimshaw, a regular British army soldier and Harriet Carter who married 5 December 1882 at St Giles Church Pontefract. Antiochus was serving as a private with 18th Yorks Regt stationed at Pontefract Barracks. After his army service the family settled in Scarborough.
As a young man Harry Preston worked at the pen factory at Nevison and was a member of the Primitive Methodist Church Choir in Forge Hill Lane. In the 1920’s he formed the group ‘Harry Preston’s Harmonica Players’ who performed at concerts and dances, their signature tune being the ever popular Moonlight and Roses, first recorded by Henry Halstead and his Orchestra in 1925.
Towards the end of 1937 he married Phyllis Cockshaw of Pontefract, daughter of Charles and Lily, and together they had three children; Jean (1939); Roy (1944) and Harry (1947).
At that time there little chance of a disabled person being able to find employment, so undeterred he applied for permission to build an extension on the side of his house, from which together with his wife he set up a fish and chip business. He further ventured in producing a new bleach, sold under the trade name ’Blankigi.’ Together with his two sons Roy and Harry he expanded, further producing and supplying detergents and cleaning equipment for the service industry.
He was actively involved in many service organisations including the Royal British Legion and campaigned unsuccessfully for his award to be upgraded to a Victoria Cross. When you read an account of his gallantry his claim certainly seems justified.