Harry HEDGES (1894–1915)
Harry Hedges (baptised as Henry) was born in Headington Quarry in 1894, the son of George Joseph Hedges (born in Headington Quarry in 1848/9, registered first quarter of 1849) and Caroline Harriet Drury (born in Oxford in 1850/1, registered first quarter of 1851).
His parents were married in the Headington Registration District in the third quarter of 1884 and had four children:
- Laura Eve Hedges (born in St Clement’s in 1884, registered Headington district fourth quarter)
- Lilian May Hedges, known as Lily (born in Headington Quarry on 11 September 1886 and baptised in the Methodist Chapel, Tyndale Street, East Oxford on 13 October 1886)
- William George Hedges (born in Headington Quarry on 15 January 1890 and baptised at New Inn Hall Street Wesleyan Chapel on 16 February 1890)
- Henry Hedges (born in Headington Quarry on 25 January 1894 and baptised in the Methodist Chapel, Tyndale Street, East Oxford on 18 April 1894.
The 1891 census shows Harry’s father George Hedges (41) working as a brickyard kiln pug and living at The Square, Headington Quarry with Caroline (40) and their first three children: Laura (6), Lilian (4), and William (1).
In 1901 Harry’s father was still working in the brickyards and living at The Square. Three children were at home: Lily (14), George (11) and Henry himself (7). Harry’s sister Laura (16) had already left home and was working as a kitchenmaid at a lodging house at 12 & 13 Oriel Street, Oxford.
In 1911 the family’s address is given as “Near the School”. Harry (17) was now a “Labourer in garden”; his father George (61) was still a labourer; and his older brother William George (21) was an unemployed labourer. Lilian (23) was now a nurse at the Wyke House Private Lunatic Asylum at Isleworth, Middlesex .
Harry Hedges volunteered to serve in the First World War and was a Private in the 5th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 10292). He was killed in action at Flanders in Belgium at the age of 25 on 25 September 1915.
Harry Hedges has no known grave, but is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing as well as on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry.
Left: Harry Hedges’s name on the Ypres (Menin Gate) War Memorial, kindly supplied by British War Graves
Postscript
Harry’s parents
- George Joseph Hedges died at 17 Quarry Hollow (then St Mary’s Road) at the age of 73 and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on on 2 February 1924.
- Mrs Caroline Harriet Hedges died at 17 Quarry Hollow at the age of 79 and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 31 January 1931.
Harry’s siblings
- Lilian May Hedges (born 1886) is probably the Lilian Hedges who died at the age of 41 at Hill House (a home for the elderly at Sandhills) and was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 29 June 1928.
See also
- CWGC: Harry Hedges
- Oxford Journal Illustrated, 30 August 1916, “Heroes of the War”: photograph of H. Hedges of Headington Quarry, reported as missing (shown above with kind permission of Oxfordshire County Council, Oxfordshire History Centre)
- Wikipedia: Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
Back to Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry roll of honour