First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry

Henry James TRAFFORD (1880–1919)

Some of this information is repeated under the next entry for Henry Trafford’s brother William

Henry James Trafford was born in Quarry in 1880, the son of Robert Trafford (born at Shotover in Quarry parish and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 July 1845) and his second wife Amelia Walker(born in Wheatley in 1854, registered third quarter).

Henry’s father Robert Trafford married his first wife Elizabeth Ann Ward (born at Shotover Hill Place and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 26 August 1838) at Holy Trinity Church on 8 August 1868. At the time of the 1871 census they were living in Quarry, and Robert was working as a labourer. They soon had three children:

• Rosa Trafford (born in Headington Quarry on 6 April 1871 and baptised at New Inn Hall Street Wesleyan Chapel on 27 June 1871)
• Albert Robert Trafford (born in Headington Quarry on 17 December 1872 and baptised at New Inn Hall Street Wesleyan Chapel on 27 January 1873)
• Lilly (or Lily/Lillie) Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1875, registered second quarter and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27 April 1879, aged 4 years 3 weeks).

Robert’s wife died at the age of 39 in 1876 (death registered third quarter). He married his second wife, the spinster Amelia Walker (24), at St Andrew’s Church on 3 November 1877, and neither could sign their name in the marriage register. They had eleven children:

• Emily Jane Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1878/9, registered first quarter of 1879 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27 April 1879)
• Henry James Trafford (born in Headington Quarry near the end of 1880, but not baptised at Holy Trinity Church until 3 August 1886 when he was “nearly 6 years”)
• Sarah Ann Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1882/3, registered first quarter of 1883, but not baptised at Holy Trinity Church until 3 August 1886 when he was 3½)
• Walter Thomas Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1884/5, registered first quarter of 1885, but not baptised at Holy Trinity Church until 3 August 1886, when he was 1½ )
• Edward Charles Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1886/7, registered first quarter of 1887 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 20 September 1887)
• Edith Mary Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1888/9, registered first quarter of 1889, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 31 March 1889)
• William Isaac Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1890/1, registered first quarter of 1891, but not baptised at Holy Trinity Church until 10 July 1907)
• Elizabeth Maud Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1892/3, registered first quarter of 1893, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 26 February 1893)
• Laura Annie Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1895, registered second quarter, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church there at the age of two on 28 February 1897)
• Charles Frederick Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1896, registered fourth quarter, and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 28 January 1897 with the name Charles Edward which was “mistakenly given by the mother”); died aged four months, buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 17 February 1897
• Ida Amelia Trafford (born in Headington Quarry in 1898, registered second quarter).

Henry’s father was a mason’s labourer, described as a “stone waller”. At the time of the 1881 census he was living at East View, Quarry with his second wife, his three children from his first marriage – Rosa (9), Albert (8), and Lillie (6) – and his first two children from his second marriage – Emily (2) and Harry himself (6 months).

At the time of the 1891 census the family was living at “Main Road” (Quarry High Street). Rosa (19) had left home and was working as a general servant in Hackney, but Albert (17) who was a general labourer and Lily (15) were still at home with the first seven children of the second marriage, including Henry (10), who was still at school.

Henry (20) is missing at the time of the 1901 census, and it is possible that he joined the army: he may be the Henry Trafford (service no. 4283) who forfeited his right to Boer War medals because he was “discharged as incorrigible and worthless”.)

Meanwhile in the 1901 census all three children from his father’s first marriage had left home, and Henry’s mother was working in a laundry. All the surviving children from the second marriage except Henry were home: his sisters Emily (21) and Sarah (18) were laundrymaids, and his brother Walter (16) was a carrier’s assistant.

By the time of the 1911 census Henry was back home: he was then an unmarried bricklayer’s labourer of 29. His parents were still living in Quarry High Street and five of his full siblings were at home: Walter (25) was a roadman with the Headington District Board; Edward (23) was a bricklayer’s labourer; William (20) was a general labourer; Laura (15) was probably helping her mother, who was still doing laundry work; and Ida (13) was at school. Emily (32) was married and living in London and her sister Edith (22), who was working as a housemaid, was paying her a visit. Elizabeth (17) was a servant in West Kensington.

 

 

In the First World War Henry Trafford served as a Private in the 8th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 13848). He died on 19 March 1919 at the age of 38 (according to Holy Trinity baptismal register and census information, but CWGC and grave give 36).

He was buried at Holy Trinity churchyard on 23 March 1919 and is also is listed on the stone plaque in the porch of the church.

Henry Trafford was the last Headington man to die as a direct result of the First World War.

 

Left: Photograph of Henry Trafford’s grave in Holy Trinity churchyard, taken in 2009. The text reads:

[Emblem of the Oxfordshire &
Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]

13848 PRIVATE
H. J. TRAFFORD
OXFORD & BUCKS. LIGHT INF.
19TH MARCH 1919   AGE 36

 

Henry’s brother William Isaac Trafford had died much earlier in the war, on 5 March 1915 at the age of about 24.