Henry Edward Backhouse

A Company Sergeant Major with the 8th Battalion, Henry died on 12th of October 1917 at the age of 25. 

Henry, sometimes known as Harry, was born at Bayswater in 1892, a son of Ebenezer Edward and Sarah Emma Backhouse. In 1901 his family lived at Chantry Road, Saxmundham, and in 1911 their address was 9 Chantry Road, Saxmundham, and Henry worked as a bottler at a mineral water company. Later his mother lived at 8 Chantry Road. 

In mid-1917, whilst on home leave, Henry married Alice Maud Cleveland, who lived at 34 Clemence Street, Lowestoft. In 1918 Alice married Arthur Hardingham.

Henry volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3/9998. He was posted to the 8th Battalion and he arrived in France, with the battalion, on 25 July 1915.

Henry was wounded and his name appears in the War Office Daily List dated 15 January 1916. 

In 1917 Henry was the Company Sergeant Major with B Company. On 15 February 1917 the company occupied dugouts in Regina Trench in readiness for an attack on 17 February. At 2 a.m. on 17 February the company left their dugouts to move to assembly positions and at 4.30 a.m. an enemy barrage began. At 5.45 a.m. the British barrage commenced and the company advanced to Grandcourt Trench which they occupied with no opposition. Advancing from Grandcourt Trench they encountered heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. The men reached the high ground south of Coffee Trench, but now the opposition was quite severe, and positions were defended by uncut wire. They encountered two enemy strong points and the battalion war diary notes:

Two parties now git a footing in the trench Corporal Wade was held up at once by enemy rifle grenades but did most valuable work while Sergeants Backhouse and Wiggett were working round the flanks.

With men of the Suffolks already in the trench and seeing the parties working round the flanks the enemy surrendered. The company held their positions for the rest of the day.

Henry was commended for his part in the attack on 17 February and he was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 17/04/1917).

Henry was wounded, date unknown, but probably in July/August 1917 and his name appears in the War Office Daily List 15 September 1917. Henry was evacuated to England and once recovered rejoined the battalion. 

On 12 October 1917 the 8th Battalion were involved in an attack near Poelcappelle, Belgium, Between Rose Trench and the Langemarck to Peolcappelle Road the battalion faced a heavy enemy barrage and soon afterwards were subjected to heavy machine-gun fire. The men had to take cover in shell-holes. The valley was found to be impassable, and the attack was abandoned. 

Henry was killed in action during the attack. Forty-six men of the battalion died on 12 October.