The love between a mother and her son is forever…
Henry Joseph Manwaring was the youngest of eight children and the only boy in the family. Harry was born at 91 St Thomas Street, Portsmouth on 13 June 1898 to father, Henry, an Engine Fitter and mother Violetta. Harry’s father died in 1909 leaving the family without a breadwinner. The 1911 census shows Harry living with his mother and sister and two boarders at 3 Batemans Place, Batemans Court, Portsea.
Harry volunteered for military service on 3 June 1916 but was not called up until 27 September 1917 when he was aged 19. He was initially transferred to the 3rd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment’s Reserve and Training Battalion but he was later listed as being a member of 2nd/7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment.
Harry left the UK aboard the troop ship RMS Ormonde, possibly bound for India or Mesopotamia but the date of departure and the destination of the ship has not been discovered to date. Whilst on board, a canvas swimming pool was constructed on the deck but there must have been some high spirits amongst the men during which Harry, presumably diving into the pool, hit his head at the bottom. The injuries to his spine were so serious he was removed from the ship and admitted to the No 2 General Hospital in Maitland, Cape Town, South Africa.
A letter to Harry’s mother from the chaplain assigned to the hospital, Reverend C F Tobias, explained what happened and broke the devastating news of his subsequent death on 3 January 1918, aged just 19.
Harry’s original headstone bearing an inscription from his loving mother at the bottom:
“From his loving mother
He obeyed his country’s call
Thy will be done.”
CWGC filled in the lettering as a temporary measure
CWGC replaced Harry’s headstone in time for his Centenary
Copy of Page 1 of the Chaplain’s Letter
Copy of Page 2 of the Chaplain’s Letter
Typed transcript of the Chaplain’s letter
Harry is buried in the CWGC section of Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, almost 6000 miles from his home and family in Portsmouth.
The original headstone bears the inscription at the bottom chosen by his mother but time and weather took its toll on the lead lettering and so, in 2017, it was replaced by the CWGC and will hopefully last another hundred years ensuring that young Harry is never forgotten.
Harry is also commemorated on a Battalion memorial in Bournemouth and on the City’s War Memorial, Guildhall Square in his home town of Portsmouth.
The Hampshire Regiment Memorial in Bournemouth
Harry’s name among the many brave souls from Portsmouth
Local newspaper announcements in the years following Harry’s death show the heartache of Harry’s mother, Violetta who lost her only son. She never forgot him right up until her death, thirty years later in 1948.
MANWARING – In loving memory of my dear son, Pte. H. J. Manwaring, Hants Regt, died Jan 3rd 1918. Gone but not forgotten – Mother
(Portsmouth Evening News; 3 January 1925)
MANWARING – In loving memory of my dear son Private H. J. Manwaring, Hants Regt., died January 3rd, 1918 – Not forgotten by his Mother.
(Portsmouth Evening News; 2 January 1932)
MANWARING – In loving memory of my only brother Pte. H. J. Manwaring, Hants Regt., died January 3rd, 1918 – Not forgotten by Ivy and Charlie.
(Portsmouth Evening News; 4 January 1939)
MANWARING – In loving memory of my dear son, Pte. H. J. Manwaring, Hants Regiment, died January 3rd, 1918. Not forgotten – Mother.
(Portsmouth Evening News; 3 January 1942)
1861 – 1948
40629 Private Henry Joseph Manwaring
2nd/7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment
13 June 1898 to 3 January 1918
Harry’s Centenary 3 January 2018
Never Forgotten
Roll of Honour, The News, Portsmouth, January 2018