Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
Harry Upward was born on 27th Jun 1893.
Harry’s mother was called Emily (nee Weller); born in the 1st quarter of 1859 in Dorking, Surrey. Harry’s father was called Jeremiah; born about 1844 and baptised on 8th Sep 1844 in Stourpaine, Dorset.
The couple married on 30th Dec 1878 at St John’s church in Capel.
Harry had five siblings: James; born about 1880; George born about 1881; Elizabeth born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 and John born about 1889 in Newdigate, all in Newdigate, Surrey.
At the time of the 1891 Census, Jeremiah, Emily and their children James, George, Elizabeth and John lived at Ewood (Mill Cottage), Broad Lane, Newdigate. Jeremiah was working as an agricultural labourer.
Harry Upward was registered into South Holmwood Church of England School on 29th Aug 1898 by his father Jeremiah. At the time of the school admission the family lived near Norfolk Farm. Harry withdrew from the school in September 1900.
In September or October 1900, Harry’s parents Emily and Jeremiah were charged with gross neglect and ill treatment of their two youngest children John (11 years old) and Harry himself (8 years old). At the time the family lived in Holmwood and the house and children were extremely filthy and covered in vermin. Their clothing was ragged and insufficient. The stench of the place was overwhelming. The older boy seemed to be mentally impaired and his glands were enlarged. The blame for the condition was put on Emily, who was said to be drinking. Emily was imprisoned for a month; Jeremiah was fined 5s and the boys had already been removed to the workhouse. The older boy was recommended to be sent to a home for imbeciles and Harry to another home. Sadly, John never got over his maltreatment and in 1919 was an inmate at the (Western Counties) Institution Starcross in Exeter, which was a mental institution.
DORKING PETTY SESSIONS
Saturday – Before Col. Calvert (chairman), Mr. L. M. Rate, Mr. A. C. Powell, Col. Lewin, Mr. J. C. Deverell, and Mr. F. D. Grissell
GROSS NEGLECT OF CHILDREN – Jeremiah and Emily Upward, living on the Holmwood, were charged with neglecting and ill treating their two children, John and Harry Upward, 11 and 8 years of age respectively, in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering and injury to health.
Mr. Scales appeared for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, who instituted the proceedings, and characterised the case as one of gross neglect. Insp. Carter, of the Society, said that from what he was told by the relieving officer he visited the defendants’ house on August 29th, and induced the female defendant to allow him to enter the house, which she had locked against him. He saw the two boys; they were extremely filthy , and their bodies were grimed with dirt. They were covered with vermin, and their clothing was dirty, ragged, and insufficient. The kitchen floor was caked with mud and dirt, the scullery was flooded with water, and contained an accumulation of rubbish, while the stench of the place was abominable. Upstairs, there was no bedding whatever. The father, who was a hard-working man, told him that he could not help the condition of the place; he supposed it was his wife’s fault. Witness had the children removed to the workhouse, where they now were.
Dr. Robert Batson said he examined the elder boy, whose mental faculties appeared to be imperfect. His body was very dirty, as was also the head, the condition of which had caused the enlargement of the glands. The surroundings in which the boy was living were certainly injurious to his health, and were much in his
opinion, as to aggravate his mental condition.
P. S. Tytherleigh said he had had occasion to caution the female defendant as to the dirty and ragged condition of the children. The father was a hard-working man, but the mother was addicted to drink.
The defendants both denied neglecting their children, and explaining the absence of bedding, the male defendant said Mr. Ison told them that if they did not pay the fine for neglecting to send their children to school he should take the furniture, They, therefore, moved it away themselves.
The Chairman said the Bench considered it a disgraceful case. They attached most blame to the female defendant, though it was the husband’s duty to see that the home was properly kept and the children cared for. He would have to pay a nominal fine of 5s: the woman would be sent to prison for a month. They also directed that the elder child should be sent to a home for imbeciles, and the younger to another home. The sentence apparently took the woman by surprise, and she was removed from the dock in a fainting condition.
Harry Upward Neglect Report Dorking Advertiser © findmypast.co.uk
The South Holmwood Church of England School in its 1900 log book entry of the 3rd of Sep states that John and Harry Upward were very neglected children with extremely irregular attendance and that they were removed to the Dorking Workhouse.
By the time of the 1901 Census, Harry’s parents Emily and Jeremiah and 20 year old brother George moved in with Emily’s sister Sarah Kempshall and her family to Mill Bottom, Holmwood, Dorking. Emily was working as a charwoman, Jeremiah as a stock man on a farm, and George as a roadman.
During the time of the 1901 Census, Harry was sent to St Michael’s Orphanage at Chislehurst, Kent.
By the time of the 1911 Census, Emily and Jeremiah boarded with a widow Harriet Ansell at Beare Green near Holmwood Station, Surrey. Jeremiah was working as a farm labourer and Emily as a charwoman. Two of Emily’s six children were already dead.
On the other hand, at the time of the 1911 census, Harry was working as a gardener at the Vicarage at South Benfleet, Essex for clergyman Charles Francis Box. The Vicarage had 12 rooms.
Sometime after the 1911 Census, Harry emigrated to the USA.
Unfortunately, Emily continued drinking and in 1912 she was charged again for being drunk on a highway. At the time she lived at Star Mount Cottage, Holmwood Station. Emily was found helpless in Horsham Road and PC Hatcher had to borrow a truck and wheel her home. She was fined only a shilling as she expressed remorse. Also, she was said to be a hard working woman who had to support her crippled husband.
Harry’s father Jeremiah died in the 3rd quarter of 1915 at the age of 71 in Dorking.
Military History
In April 1916, Harry came back from the USA to join the Army. He stayed with his sister Elizabeth Weller (then married to Arthur E. W. J. Weller alias Tickner) at 1 Cotmandene, Dorking. She was also his next of kin.
Harry enlisted on 28th Apr 1916 at Guildford. He became part of the 12th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. He was a private and his regimental number was G14796. He was 22 years old.
On his enlistment paper, Harry stated that he was a gardener. He was over 5 feet tall and weighed 126 lb. He had a scar over his right hip and three moles over his right nipple. Although he had slightly flat feet he was still accepted into the Army.
From 28th Apr 1916 to 12th Sep 1916, Harry served at home. On 1st Sep 1916, he was transferred into the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. On 13th Sep 1916 Harry joined the British Expeditionary Force and embarked to France on the same date. On 29th Sep 1916 Harry joined the 6th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Just before Harry went missing on 3rd May 1917, he was given 14 days of Field Punishment No 2.
PTE. H. UPWARD
R. W. Kents
News has been received that Pte. H. Upward, Royal West Kent Regt., previously reported missing, has been killed. He was the son of the late Mr. Jeremiah Upward, of Holmwood, and his sister, Mrs. Weller, lives at the Cotmandene, Dorking. He came home from America to join up in April of last year, and fell in the heavy fighting in the first week in May. A letter has been received from the N. C. O.’s and men of deceased’s platoon expressing their deep sympathy at his loss, and saying that he was looked up to by all of them as a soldier.
Harry Upward Death Notice Dorking Advertiser © findmypast.co.uk
Harry is presumed to have died in an action during the Battle of Arras (April – May 1917) in France on or since 3rd of May 1917.
On 3rd May the 6th Battalion was at Happy Valley and tried unsuccessfully to capture the Brown Line trench. Harry’s body was never found and he is commemorated at Arras Memorial at Bay 7.
The men from his platoon looked up to him as a good soldier.
Harry’s unhappy mother Emily died in March 1919 in Dorking at the age of 61.
His sister Elizabeth received £3, 7s, 6d as soldier’s effects on 19th Nov 1917 and a further £3, 10s on 4th Nov 1919. Elizabeth was also given Harry’s personal possessions: letters, two photos and stationary. His brother, George Upward, received a memorial scroll.
Harry was awarded the British and Victory medals. He was in the Army for 1 year and 6 days.
| Born | Newdigate, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | Emily and Jeremiah Upward | |
| Brother of | Elizabeth Weller of 1, Cotmandene Dorking | |
| Regiment | 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment | |
| Number | G/14796 | |
| Date of Death | 3rd May 1917 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 24 | |
| Memorial | Arras Memorial, Arras, France |
