Capern, H J
HENRY JAMES (HAL) CAPERN
Remembered with honour Pozieres Memorial: Panel 61 to 64.
He attested 16 November 1914 at Shaftesbury Street, London N, in the Territorial Force for 4 years’ service in the U.K.: an insurance clerk aged 19, 5’9″ tall, C of E; in the 2/4th (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) as Private 3442. He served at Home 16 November to 22 December 1914, when he embarked from Southampton 23 December 1914 to Malta where he served from 2 January to 19 August 1915. He embarked from Malta 20 August 1915 disembarked Alexandria 24 August 1915. Then served in Egypt, during which time he was admitted to the 19th General Hospital Alexandria 27 September 1915 with enteric fever. Sent to England 26 October 1915 aboard Hospital Ship Galeka, and served at Home until 27 February 1917. He was discharged in consequence of being granted a commission as temporary Second Lieutenant 5th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps 28 February 1917, gazetted 26 March 1917. He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 24 August 1915; the medals were sent to his father of Watford; and was killed in action 23* or 24* March 1918.
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Henry in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 20 April 1918.
Son of James Alfred and Helen Sarah (nee LIMBREY) CAPERN of Watford.
His parents married 1893 in the Lambeth, London, district. Helen died 1933 in Watford aged 73, and was buried 28 July in North Watford Cemetery. James remarried 1934 in the Chelsea, London district to Lois Elaine WILKS. He died 7 April 1955 in Esher, Surrey, aged 88; Lois died 5 March 1991 in Hove, Sussex, aged 88.
Henry was born 17 January 1895 in Herne Hill, London, and attended Watford Grammar School from September 1905 to July 1912.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Clapham, London, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his parents and no siblings.
Rank
Second LieutenantUnit
11th* Battalion, attached 59th Trench Mortar BatteryRegiment
Date of death
22*/03/1918Age at death
23Place of death
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)