Private Henry Wardle
39477 4th Batallion South Staffordshire Regiment
52284 Lincolnshire Regiment
Henry Wardle was born in 1884 at Ironville, Derbyshire son of John Wardle a coal miner hewer born Ironville and his wife Ann (nee Riley). There were 10 children in the family 9 of whom survived. Brothers and sisters were John, Dora, William, Mary, Mabel, George, Lily Ann, Arthur, Minnie and Henry himself, who was the 5th child born to John and Ann. In 1901 the family was living at ‘The Dog Kennels’, Riddings, a row of cottages owned by James Oakes & Co local colliery owners. By 1911 Henry’s parents had moved to 68, Talbot Street, Pinxton, Derbyshire.
Henry moved back to this area when, in January 1908, he married Drusilla Bexon, from Fletcher’s Row, Ironville at Christchurch, Ironville. On the 1911 Census they were living at Fletcher’s Row and Henry was working as a labourer at the brick works. Before the start of WW1 they had children Edna May, Cyril and John H.
No military records have been found for Henry apart from his Medal Rolls Index Card stating he was a recipient of the British War and Victory Medals. He is also listed on the Absent Voters Roll as serving with the army and therefore away from his later home at Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale.