Pte 300598 Harry Jewsbury

• Age: 19
• From: Stockport, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Perth Cem Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: IV.E.5

Harry Jewsbury Musson was born in Stockport in early 1899, the son of John Henry Jewsbury Musson and his wife Eliza (nee Taylor), who married on the 12th June 1897 at Christ Church, Heaton Norris, Stockport. John was a 33 year old widower, living at 4 School Street, Heaton Norris, whilst Eliza was 23 of 100 Great Egerton Street, Heaton Norris. Harry was baptised, also at Christ Church, on 29th March 1899.

His father originally married Mary Elizabeth Chadwick (born 10th February 1864) in 1883 at St Mary's Church, Cheadle, Stockport. They had 2 children; Emily Jewsbury Musson born in 1886, and Ernest born in 1894. Mary Elizabeth died in the December quarter of 1896, aged 32.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 48 Hatherlow Street, Stockport. Harry is listed as 2 years of age. His father, John Henry, is a mechanic in a Cotton Mill, born in Stockport in 1865, whilst his mother Eliza was also born in Stockport . He has two older step-siblings: Emily b.1887 and Ernest b. 1894.  

Harry was enrolled to Christ Church School in Heaton Norris on the 28th August 1905.

On the 1911 Census, Harry and his father are living with now married Emily at 16 Hesketh St, Stockport. Head of the household is Isaac Brown 24, wife Emily Brown 24, son John Brown 7 months, John Henry Musson 47 a fitter, and Harry Musson aged 12.

He enlisted in Stockport and was formerly Private 3181 of the Cheshire Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300598 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918, aged 19, during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Harry now rests at Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Zillebeke, Belgium.

The cemetery was begun by French troops in November 1914 (the French graves were removed after the Armistice) and adopted by the 2nd Scottish Rifles in June 1917. It was called Perth (as the predecessors of the 2nd Scottish Rifles were raised in Perth), China Wall (from the communication trench known as the Great Wall of China), or Halfway House Cemetery. The cemetery was used for front line burials until October 1917 and contained 130 graves. It was not used again until after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from the battlefields and smaller cemeteries around Ypres.  There are now 1,426 WW1 Commonwealth burials in the cemetery.

It was over a year before his family received the confirmation of Harry's death, following the receipt of which the family posted the following in the Stockport Express on 29th May 1919: 

PRIVATE HARRY JEWSBURY

No. 303398, 17th Kings Liverpool's, missing since April 29, 1918, now officially reported died on that date, or since.

We cannot forget you, we loved you too dearly

For your memory to fade from our life like a dream;

Lips need not speak when the heart mourns sincerely,

We miss you, we mourn you in silence unseen.

If this is the price of victory, Oh! God, forbid all wars.

From Father, Sister and Children, 10 Eadie Street.
______________

For honour, liberty, and truth,

He sacrificed his glorious youth.

Fondly remembered by Mary, 10 Eadie Street

______________

Time changes many things,

But loving memory ever clings.

From his old pal Sam, in Russia.

______________

Gone, but not forgotten,

Guarded by God's right hand,

His troubles cease, he rests in peace,

Within that Better Land.

In loving memory, Fanny, 6 Fountain Street, Portwood.

Soldiers Effects were sent to his father John H., Pension to mother Eliza, 13 Newton St, Bridgefield, Stockport.