Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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S/51467   Private Robert Henry
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Dated added: 25/04/2016   Last updated: 12/05/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 16/04/1899
Died: 12/04/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age: 18
Summary      
Robert Henry was the eldest son of David and Tilly / Lilly Henry. He was born 16th April 1899 in Aghadowey. He was one of at least four children and lived in Boveedy, Kilrea. David Henry died in Kilrea in 1907 when Robert was just seven years old. Robert Henry enlisted in Stirling, Scotland. Private Robert Henry was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders when he was killed in action on Friday 12th April 1918.
Further Information
Robert Henry was the eldest son of David and Tilly / Lilly Henry. David Henry married Lily Gilmore on the 30th March 1898 in the district of Coleraine.
Robert Henry was born 16th April 1899 in Aghadowey. He was one of at least four children.
Family: David Henry, Tillie Henry, Robert Henry (born 16th April 1899, Aghadowey), Hugh Henry (born 19th July 1900, Aghadowey), Mary Henry (born 31st October 1902, Aghadowey), Martha Henry (born about 1907).
Robert’s father, David Henry, died in Kilrea on 5th March 1907, aged 55 years. Robert was just seven years old.
The 1911 census lists Robert as age 11 living with the family at house 38 in Boveedy, Hervey Hill, Kilrea, County Londonderry. The family were staying with Tillie’s brother.
Robert Henry enlisted in Stirling, Scotland.
Medal card
Private Robert Henry was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders when he was killed in action on Friday 12th April 1918, just four days before his 19th birthday.
Private Robert Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on Ploegsteert Memorial. The Ploegsteert Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, which is twelve kilometres south of Ypres. It commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave.
Robert Henry is also commemorated in Boveedy Presbyterian Church.
Private Robert Henry is also commemorated on Greenock War Memorial.
The CWGC record Private Robert Henry as the son of Mrs Tillie Henry of 7 Bruce Street, Greenock, Scotland.
The book ‘Garvagh and Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18’ lists Robert on page 133.
Read more
Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Bovedy, Hervey Hill Kilrea Census listing in Bovedy, Hervey Hill 54.947080 -6.609819
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Henry family Possible 1901 census listing of the family at house 44 in Gortmacrane, Hervey Hill, Londonderry
2 1911 Census lists Henry family 1911 census lists Rpbert as age 11 living with the family at house 38 in Bovedy, Hervey Hill, Londonderry
3 Aghadowey 1914-1918 Brief details of Private Robert Henry
4 Forum Discussion (rootschat) Gives date of birth as 16-4-1899
5 National Archives UK Medal card of S/21467 Private Robert Henry can be purchased here
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023