Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    Z429
  • Title
    Gift from H.M.A. Webb Esq
  • Date free text
    1898 - 1915
  • Production date
    From: 1898 To: 1915
  • Admin/biog history
    The following relate to Mrs Webb's father Henry [Harry] Webb who fought in the South African War. The latter's father, William, was a coachbuilder in Bedesman's Place, later 5 Cardington Road, Bedford, and his grandfather was Emanuel Webb, a furrier of Well Street. Mr Webb said that he believed there was an earlier family connection with chairmaking at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. This appears to be borne out by the 1851 Census where Emanuel Webb, aged 48, a furrier employing eighteen men in Well Street, his wife and five of his six children are all given as being born in High Wycombe. Emanuel was buried in Bedford Cemetary on 9th September 1859 and subsequent directories of 1864 and 1869 list his widow, Mrs Hannah Webb of Well Street as "skinner and furrier2 and the earlier one also adds "rag merchant and marine storedealer". The 1894-1910 directories give William Webb at 5 Cardington Road, coachbuilder. Harry's mother died when he as thirteen months old and he was brought up by and older sister Eva. Wanting to join the Army and go to South African War, but being under age, he assumed, with a neighbour's knowledge their surname, 'Wilson'. This was the family of Wilson, bedding manufacturer's in adjoining St John's Street. In this way having joined the forces, and the Wilson family sworn to secrecy, his famuily would be unable to trace him in the army and thereby prevent him going out to South Africa. He joined the York and Lancashire Regiment and served for almost five years. He was promoted Corporal and Acting Lance Sergeant and was at the relief of Ladysmith under General Bulle. After his discharge in Cape Town on medical grounds, he joined a merchant ship as a second butche, knowing nothing about the trade, but by this means he got back to England. His occupation on his discharge papers is givenas carriage painter. He joined the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment in the 1st World War and being unfit for service overseas served at their training camp at Houghton Regis. He married and had four children, one son and three daughters, none of whom married. His son, Harry Maurice Andrew Webb, contracted polio when he was only three years old, which resulted in the a paralysed right arm. The family then were advised by their doctor for health reasons to live in the country. There has been a long history of heart trouble in the family from Emanual downwards. The family went to reside in Keysoe at the time of Harry junior illness and later moved to Renhold, then finally to Tebworth about sixty years ago. Harry junior left school at fifteen, and with his handicap found work difficult to come by, there being little but agricultural labouring on offer in the village. By the time he was nineteen however he had saved £9 and with this he began a business by buying a second hand generator, and with this charging batteries and accumulators, which were required in the early wireless sets. He progressed from this small beginning to repairing bicycles and then mortorcycles and cars. He and his remaining sister still live in the cottage at Tebworth
  • Archival history
    Gift from H.M.A. Webb Esquire, 28 The Lane, Tebworth, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
  • Level of description
    fonds
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