Henry Frederick Bourne was born on 6th October 1887 in Maldon, Essex to Frederick and Mary (née Laver). In 1911, he was working as a draper’s porter but, by the start of the war, had become an attendant at St Audry’s Hospital.

Henry signed up almost straight away as part of Kitchener’s recruitment drive. He enlisted with the Essex Regiment early in September 1914 and was posted to join the 11th (Service) Battalion, Essex Regiment which had been raised at Warley and then sent to Shoreham for training. The 11th Essex were deployed to France, arriving in Boulogne, on 30th August 1915.

Henry did not spend long in France however, and he was soon back in England, declared physically unfit for service. He was discharged on 20th January 1916 and returned to work at St Audry’s for a short period of time.

In 1939, Henry was working as a private nurse-attendant for a retired naval captain in Greenwich, London. He died, having never married, on 3rd July 1955.

For his war service, Henry received the 1914-15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.