Henry Patteson Strong was born on the 7^th of December 1875 at 264 Old Kent Road, Southwark. He was the son of James Patteson and Elizabeth Strong (nee Beaver). He was baptised on May 1877, on the same day as his sister Helen, who was born 9^th April 1877. At this time the family lived at 264 Old Kent Road, and father James Pattison Strong was a butcher. The spelling Pattison is used in Henry’s baptism record, in the Births Index, and on his birth certificate.

Henry’s parents James Pattison Strong and Elizabeth Beaver married on 31 March 1861 at the District Church of St Mary Magdelene in Southwark, Surrey. James was a butcher, like his father (Henry’s grandfather), who was also named James Pattison Strong. Elizabeth’s father William Beaver was also a butcher. Taken just a week later, the 1861 census shows Henry’s parents James and Elizabeth (bc1831, Middlesex) living at Surrey Place, Southwark, Surrey.

Henry’s father James was born in Dunster c1832, and can be seen on the 1851 census living with his parents in West Street – his father (also James Strong) was born in Minehead.

The 1871 census tells us that James (39, a butcher, born Somerset) and Elizabeth (40), were living at 264 Kent Road, Southwark with their children Anna (7), James (4), William (2), sister Mary Ann Beaver (45, single, born City), a domestic servant Charlotte Mitchell (15). Also living there were two butchers, both aged 21 – Fred Wood and John Pace – possibly apprentices of James’s.

When the 1881 census was taken, Henry (5) was living with his parents James (50, a butcher, born Somerset) and Elizabeth (51), his 3-year-old sister Helen, and James’s sister-in-law Mary Beaver (58, born Middlesex). The family had two servants, Sarah Kempt (27) and Edith Williams (21), both born Surrey.

Henry’s father James Pattison Strong died on 10 Nov 1886.

The 1891 census finds Henry (15) as a schoolboy at Bedford County School, Southwark, Surrey.

The 1901 census shows Henry (25, a hide merchant) as living at 6 Tavistock Road, Croydon, with his widowed mother Elizabeth (71) and Elizabeth’s aunt Mary Beaver (75, born London). The family had a cook (Ellen Jones, 34) and a housemaid (Ada Winton, 22).

Henry was a Freemason, and joined the Lodge La Tolerance in London on the 5^th of February 1903.

Henry (aged 35, a merchant) married Alma Gladys Rawle on the 15^th of February 1911 in the Parish Church, Sutton. Henry was living in Bate Road, Wallington, and Alma lived at Worcester Lodge, Sutton. She was the daughter of Arthur Henson Rawle, a merchant.

Henry (35, a hide merchant) and his wife Alma (25) were living at Morningside, Foxley Lane, Purley when the 1911 census was taken. They had a general servant, Louisa Sired (28).

Henry was a successful businessman and was the director of Strong, Rawle & Strong (Ltd.), Upper Russell Street, Bermondsey, and of the Hide and Skin Market, Bermondsey (fellmongers).

Henry enlisted in Purley. Gunner. 362678. Royal Garrison Artillery. 14^th Siege Bty. SDITGW gives Battalion as “Lancashire and Cheshire. [RGA – (TF)]”.

The Siege Batteries were deployed behind the front line, tasked with destroying enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores. The batteries were equipped with heavy Howitzer guns firing large calibre 6, 8 or 9.2 inch shells in a high trajectory. 14^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery first saw overseas action in Gallipoli in 1915 and after the withdrawal was sent to France. 

Henry died of wounds on the 29^th October 1917 at 18 Cpr M Dr Stn, France, and was buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery in Belgium, grave reference III. A. 15. His wife Alma Gladys Strong was living at 2, Egmont House, Sutton, Surrey.

Henry left generous bequests in his will; beneficiaries included Dunster Cottage Hospital, the Vicar of Dunster (for the poor), Guy’s Hospital, and the Butcher’s Charitable Association. Perhaps his most thoughtful gift was to bequeath “£1,000 in trust during the life of his wife to apply the income for a treat for the children of the Chelsea and District Schools, Banstead, the treat to consist of sweets, strawberries, or a visit to the pantomime, and to be in the nature of a surprise.”

You can see a photo of Henry’s medal and WW1 memorial plaque on his memorial on the Find A Grave website.