3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Welsh Regiment
Henry Widdows was Cheltenham born, in 1878, the son of George and Eliza Widdows. In 1904 he married Hannah (Annie) Stevens at St Philip & St James’ Church, Leckhampton. The couple had four children, born in 1904, 1915, 1914 and 1915. At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at 14 Gordon Street, Maindee, Newport, Monmouthshire and Henry was employed as a haulier at a chemical works.
According to his surviving Service Record papers, Henry attested for military service, for the duration of the war, at Newport on 14 January 1915; he stated his age to be 35 (he would have been 37 in that year). Being just over five feet tall he was put down for the Glamorgan GS Bantam Battalion and given the number 26291. On 15 January 1915 he joined the 17th (Reserve) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment at Porthcawl; this was a Bantam Battalion. Rapid promotion followed to Corporal on 22 January, Lance Sergeant on 27 February and to Sergeant on 12 May 1915. On 11 September 1915 he transferred to 22nd (Reserve) Battalion and the remainder of his time with them was spent in North Wales. On 20 November 1917 he was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Redcar (Tees Garrison). At some point his service number changed from 26291 to 63632.
By the end of 1918 it was apparent that all was not well with him medically and a notice of impending appearance before an Invaliding Board was issued on 13 December 1918. It is not known if he made an appearance before this board, as he died from broncho-pneumonia on 14 February 1919, aged 40, at a military hospital at Lily Lane, Moston, Manchester. He left behind a widow, Hannah, who lived at 1 Providence Square, Cheltenham and four children, born in 1915, 1906, 1914 and 1915, respectively.
Sergeant Henry Widdows was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, where a CWGC headstone marks his grave. He is remembered on the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour and also that of the Church School.
Researched by Graham Adams 14 February 2013 (revised 10 August 2021)