Henry Wellburn
Date of birth: 21.5.1879
Date of death: 22.12.1917
Area: Knottingley
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Family information: Husband of Elizabeth Jane Wellburn nee Squire
Rank: Gunner
Service number: 204830
War Service
Henry Wellburn enlisted on 1st February 1917 and served with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 26th June 1917. He was with “A” Battery, 306 Bde, Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action near Arras on 22nd December 1917 aged 38 and was buried at Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website his father was at that time living at Huddlestone Hall, South Milford and his wife, Elizabeth, was of Glandsford House, Sherburn in Elmet.
The www.roll-of-honour.com website shows that he was killed in action on 22nd December 1917 aged 38. He enlisted at Ferrybridge and was resident in Sherburn in Elmet at the time. It also gives the information that he was buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-le-Grand, Somme, France, plot 111 Row C grave 7.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914 – 1918 p 230:
“WELLBURN, Henry. Gunner No 204830 Royal Field Artillery, second son of William Harrison Wellburn, of the Dower House, Hillam, South Milford, by his wife Sarah Ann, daughter of George Allison; born Wintringham, Yorkshire 21st May 1879; educated Weaverthorpe Grammar School; he had a grazing farm, chiefly going in for horses (hunters); during the early part of the war he spent his time training Canadian horses for the Government at his home at Water Fryston, Ferrybridge; enlisted 1st February 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 26th June and was killed in action near Arras 22nd December 1917. Buried in the New British Cemetery, Fins. Gunner Wellburn was a popular sportsman, well known in the hunting field and show ring. He married at All Saints Church, Sherburn in Elmet, near York, Elizabeth Jane (Glandsford House, Sherburn in Elmet) daughter of the late William Henry Squire and had a son Hamilton Squire born 27th November 1910.”
Family Life
Henry was born on 21st May 1879 at Wintringham, Yorkshire, the son of William Harrison Wellburn and his wife Sarah Ann nee Allison. They had married in the second quarter of 1873 and their marriage was registered at Whitby.
Henry Wellburn married Elizabeth Jane Squire on 10th June 1909 at All Saints Church, Sherburn in Elmet. In the 1911 census he was shown to be a farmer living at Water Fryston, Ferrybridge with his wife and 4 month old son.