Harry James Timbers

Born: 1870

Died: 11 March 1919

Rank and Regiment: Private 505043 in the Labour Corps (formerly Private 41986 in the Royal Defence Corps)

Resting Place: St. Botolph’s Churchyard, Barford, United Kingdom

Memorials: St. Botolph’s Churchyard, Barford, United Kingdom

On the face of it, Henry or Harry James Timbers was a Londoner having been born in Islington in 1869. However, his parents John and Harriet Timbers (nee Watson) came from Wicklewood and Hackford respectively.

He was baptised on 13 June 1869 at All Saints “Battle Bridge” (which then stood on the corner of All Saints St and Caledonian Road); the family are then recorded as living at 10 Wharfedale Road, and John’s occupation is given as “Ostler”.

By 1881, the family had moved back to Barford, where John was working as a fish hawker, and Harry had acquired three younger siblings. However, on Census night in 1881 Harry was living with his maternal grandparents in Teddington, London. They, too, were Norfolk people, hailing from Wicklewood.

In 1903, Harry married Florence Browne, also from Barford, and had four children: a son, called Arthur Henry (born 1903), a daughter named Minnie (born 1911) and two sons from Florence’s previous relationship, named Cyril and Clifford Browne. In 1911, Harry worked as a horseman at a farm whilst his sons, Arthur and Clifford attended school and Cyril was a Bullock Tender.

Virtually none of his military records survive, but he appears initially to have been in the Royal Defence Corps. This section of the British Army was formed by converting the (Home Service) Garrison battalions into infantry regiments. Garrison battalions were composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for active front-line service. Their role was to provide troops for security and guard duties inside the United Kingdom, guarding important locations such as ports or bridges, and also prisoner-of-war camps. Men in this Corps were not intended to be posted overseas.

At some stage, however, he was transferred to the Labour Corps. This regiment was raised in 1915 and was manned by officers and other army personnel who had been medically rated below the “A1” condition needed for front line service. Typically, this would be any soldier who had previously suffered life-changing injuries on the front line. By the Armistice, the Corps grew to almost 400,000 men. Unlike the men of the Royal Defence Corps, Labour Corps units were often deployed for work within range of the enemy guns. During the crisis caused by the Germans’ desperate “Spring Offensive” of March and April 1918 on the Western Front, Labour Corps Units were used as emergency infantry.

We do not know whether Harry Timbers was posted abroad, but the description of him in his Death Certificate as “Private, 429th Agricultural Company” suggests not. He died in Norwich War Hospital on 11 March 1919, but of stomach cancer rather than of injuries sustained in the War. His effects, totalling £16 1s 10d after a £3 15s “recharge” was paid out to his widow.

He was buried in St. Botolph’s Church in Barford on the 15th March 1919. The grave also commemorates Harry’s younger brother, John, who was killed in action in France and was buried in the Vermelles British Cemetery.

Florence remained in Norfolk until her death in 1952 aged 78. She was also buried in Barford on the 26th March 1952. In the 1939 Register, an Arthur H Timbers (born 1903) is reported as living in Norfolk with his wife, Gladys, and his two sons, Roland and Peter.

Harry’s Grave in St. Botolph’s Churchyard, Barford