PRIVATE 4926

17th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt.)

Died Sunday 9th May 1915, Aged 25.

Commemorated: Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium.

Panel 7

Harry Joseph Jeffs was born in 1890. A 'Selston Roll of Honour' published in 1916, mentions Harry as follows:-

"The following are the names of the Selston men who have fallen in the service of their country, and for whom a memorial service was conducted at the Parish Church as mentioned last week:-

Private Harry Joseph Jeffs, Notts & Derbys, killed in action. May 9th, 1915, aged 25 years."

A local newspaper report of 1915 headed 'SELSTON' carried Harry's story:-

"After being reported missing for some time, official notification has been received of the death of Private Harry Jeffs, of the 1st Sherwood Foresters, whose parents live at New Selston.  Deceased, who was a printer, had worked at several places in the district and prior to enlisting lived at Nottingham, but he was well known and respected in Selston. He enlisted in August 1914 and was killed in action in France on May 9th.  He was 25 years of age and married."

The Sherwood Foresters Roll of Honour indicates that he was born at New Selston, resided in Nottingham and enlisted at Nottingham.  Harry was killed in action at Rouges Blancs, France.

Harry is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, which commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during World War One and have no known grave.  Most were killed during day to day trench warfare, or during small scale engagements which were characteristic of this part of the line. 

Last updated 26/12/02