I’ve been intrigued by Patrick Joseph McHenry, and despite not uncovering as much about his life as I would wish, I have built a distinct picture of him in my mind.
He was born in Stow Hill, Monmouthshire in 1886. At the age of 14 he enlisted with the army and was assigned to the York and Lancashire Regiment, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. But his records show his rank as “Bandsman”. His marriage certificate gives some clue as to the instrument he played, listing his occupation as “Instrumentalist French Horn.”
His attestation signed on 18th April 1900 describes him as being 4ft 101/2 inches with a 31 inch chest and 3 inch maximum expansion. He had a fresh complexion, with blue eyes and brown hair and described his religion as Roman Catholic.
The 1911 census lists Patrick under the Trumpeters and Drummers of the 1st York Lancashire Regiment resident in India. Following the end of the war in South Africa in 1902, the 1st battalion was sent to British India where it remained until being dispatched to Aden, now known as South Yemen, at the beginning of 1912. Patrick himself was discharged from the army on 18th April 1912, having served the 12 years he’d signed up for. His discharge papers list his behaviour as very good. They also show that he had grown in height during his 12 years of service and at the age of 26 was 5ft 21/2″.
on 11th April 1914 Patrick married 22 year old Florence Hill in the Registry Office in Bristol. Both he and Florence listed their address as 79 Bath Road, Knowle, Near Bridgewater. Their first child Harold McHenry was born in Canterbury on 26th March 1915.
The outbreak of WW1 saw Patrick returning to the army. His medal card indicates that he served as a Sergeant in the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and that he was awarded both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Regimental paperwork issued in 1919 indicated that Patrick was still serving some months after the war had ended.
Patrick and Florence’s second son, Aubrey James McHenry was born in 1921. It is through Aubrey that I first discovered Patrick. Aubrey is one of the rather anonymous names listed on Castle Bromwich War Memorial as a casualty of WW2.
From at least the outbreak of WW2 and his death on 25th April 1959, Patrick lived around the Stechford and Castle Bromwich area. He is buried in the graveyard by St Mary and St Margaret Church, Castle Bromwich.
