Lives of the First World War

Henry Lucas was born in 1887 in Corsham. His parents were Henry and Sarah (nee Cox) who were living in Paul Street. His father was a clerk, probably at the local Stone Merchants and was also a Wesleyan Local Preacher – Henry had an elder sister called Florence. In 1891 the family were living in Myrtle Villas in Paul Street with Henry now described as a Stone Merchant and Lay Preacher. Henry was living in Bristol at the age of 14 with his mother’s sister Eliza who was a Music Teacher. This accords with family memories which record him being a gifted organist known to have played for many years at St. John’s Church in Bath. Henry married Edith Berry in Bath in 1910 and was living in Bath at the time of the 1911 census. He was described as a Hardware Merchant and was known to have a Hardware shop in Southgate Street and then in Oldfield Park. He later ran a grocery shop in Kensington Gardens in Bath. The Corsham War Book records that Henry enlisted for the war in 1916 when he would have been 29. He was a Private in the Royal Medical Corps serving in France when he died in Hospital in Le Havre on 21st November 1918 after the war had officially ended. It is understood from his family history that he contracted Spanish influenza which swept through the hospital camps at the time. There is reference in his service records to the 52nd Stationary Base Hospital which was in Le Havre but it is not known if he served there or whether he was treated there. He is buried in the Ste. Marie Cemetery in Le Havre.

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