Harry William Church

Able Seaman - Service No. R/1120 - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Harry William Church, the only son of Albert Church and his wife Kate (Smith), was born on 13th March 1899 in Swardeston, Norfolk. Harry had two younger sisters, also born in Swardeston, Olive, born 1st March 1902, and Joan, born 21st March 1917. His father Albert had been born in Mulbarton in 1869 in "The Garden House" by the pond and his father, William, was described variously as market gardener and florist (a grower of cut flowers).

Albert and Kate established themselves in Swardeston at Roadside Nurseries, albeit rather further south than the more recent nursery business, on land opposite the Dog Inn along the turnpike as far as Wood Lane and where Cavell Close is now situated. Here Albert established a thriving business, initially in partnership with his brother Herbert, and raised Harry and the two girls. The family lived in the house, by the turnpike, that still stands as part of Royson Court.

Harry was educated at Norwich school and his sister Joan attended Notre Dame School in Norwich, making the daily trip in the family's pony and trap. When he finished his education Harry entered the family business, almost certainly with a view to taking over from his father in due course. Harry was an accomplished pianist and was frequently reprimanded for coming in from working on the nursery to practise the piano without washing his "tomato hands" (only someone who has spent several hours working in a tomato greenhouse will appreciate the significance of this remark!). Harry's sister Olive learned to play the organ and, as a young girl, was frequently to be found playing the instrument in the village church.

Harry joined the Army Reserves on 9th February 1917 just before his 18th birthday. He transferred to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves on 13th April 1917, just after his younger sister Joan was born, and was drafted to the British Expeditionary Force on 2nd April 1918. On 8th April 1918 he joined the Drake Battalion of the RNVR and, a couple of weeks later, on 21st August was reported missing at Achiet-le-Grand, just south of Arras, France. According to Harry's navy records a comrade, R/5893 Able Seaman Percy Powell, from the same unit, was taken prisoner of war during the same action on 21st August and it was only after being released that Able Seaman Powell was able to confirm that he had seen Harry dead at the time he himself had been taken prisoner. Harry is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois memorial although he has no known grave. His service records survive and we know he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal that were posted to his parents.

A family story goes that Harry befriended a fellow soldier from this same part of the country and they made a pact that if either of them was killed the other would visit the family of the deceased to tell them of the circumstances. The other soldier survived the war and visited Albert and Kate a number of times telling them that Harry had been picked off by a sniper, having popped his head up a trifle early, and almost certainly died instantaneously. Whether this soldier who visited the family and Able Seaman Powell are one and the same remains a matter of conjecture.

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