Covington, Henry William
Harry was the second son of Arthur and Eva Eliza Ann (nee Smith) Covington born in January 1890 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.
Henry (Harry) enlisted on 31 October 1914 with the Territorial Army, Regimental Number 7717. He joined the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (a division of the Territorial Army) on 1 September 1916. On 28 August 1918 he joined the Royal Fusiliers, Regimental Number 279440 and on 30 October 1918 was seconded to the 3rd Battalion London Regiment. Harry would have seen active service in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders, in the Battles of The Somme, Ypres and Aras. He served until 7 March 1919 when he was discharged sick, no longer fit to serve.
He was awarded the British Medal, the Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge.
He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.
Before enlisting he was a farm labourer.
Harry married Frances Smith in the 2nd quarter of 1919 in the Saffron Walden District, Essex. They had one son Reginald Gordon born on 20 January 1923 and christened at Ashwell, Hertfordshire. The 1939 census shows 3 more children living with them in Saffron Walden, Essex, and lists Harry as a horseman on a farm.
His brother, Frederick enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in 1910, was sent to Poona, India in 1911 where he contracted Tuberculosis. He was invalided back to England in 1913 as no longer fit for service and died in 1914.
Harry’s brother, Bernard John also served in WWI and survived.
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