Story
Harry Huntington, a brushmaker by trade, served in the Naval Forces and in the London Regiment and died in 1918 in Palestine. He was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 17th Battalion, the Poplar and Stepney Rifles, who were stationed in 1917-18 in Gaza, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jericho, Jordan, Tell' Asur, Palestine. The Battle of Jerusalem saw General Edmund Allenby capture the city, in the December of 1917, from the Turkish forces. Harry Thomas Huntington's death on 1 May 1918 is commemorated at the Jerusalem Memorial. Born in Bristol, Harry followed in his father's footsteps for he was the son of a brushmaker. Harry Huntington Senior and his wife, Florence Ada, both hailed from Bristol. The family lived in the Horfield suburb and later in Ashley, Bristol, where, in 1901, Harry Senior's trade was recorded as being 'brushmaker hair hand' suggesting he trimmed the bristles of brushes. As well as son Harry Thomas, the couple had a daughter Doris and their youngest son, Ivor, would be born around 1902. By 1905, however, the family had moved to Poole. Harry Huntington Sr was registered as an elector, living in North Villas in North Road, Poole. In 1911, however, the family's home was at Alveston, in Sterte Road, Poole where both Harry Sr and his son Harry Thomas were working at brushmaking. Before the First World War broke out, Harry Thomas Huntington, now 24, got married. His bride was Daisy Winifred Eyers, born on 3 May 1890, (the same year as Harry), who was the daughter of a master chimney sweep. The Eyers (sometimes Eyres) family lived at 22 Hill Street in Poole. After her husband's death in 1918, Daisy Huntington received 2nd Lt Harry Thomas Huntington's British War and Victory medals. His medal records state that his death, on 1 May 1918, was presumed. The address of his widow is given as 22 Hill Street, the home of her parents. Harry Thomas Huntington's father, Harry Sr, later lived at a house called Cader Idris in Alder Road, Branksome. He survived his oldest son by 19 years. Eight years after Harry's death, in April 1926 35-year-old Daisy Huntington, of 22 Hill Street, Poole, sailed from Southampton for Canada on the SS Minnedosa to visit one of her sisters. (Daisy's profession was listed as 'Domestic'.) Touchingly, perhaps, she listed her relationship (eg wife, niece etc) as 'None'. She also ticked boxes to say she could read and that she had paid for her passage herself. She stated that she was taking £20 with her on board the ship. Daisy named her father, James Eyers as her nearest relative. Her sister, now Mrs W. Wigler, lived in Courtenay, British Columbia and Daisy was travelling overland from Quebec by Canadian Pacific to get there. When Daisy Huntington returned to England it appears she returned to the family's 22 Hill Street home. Her mother, Alice Eliza died in Poole in 1933. Six years later, Daisy was still living at 22 Hill Street with her father, now listed as a retired chimney sweep. Daisy passed away in 1975, in Poole, at the age of 85. She had been living at a flat in Hanover House, Seldown Road. Widowed in her 20s, she had never remarried after Harry"s death in the First World War.