Shields Gazette 25/11/1917
Photo: James Pasby
Shorncliffe Hospital 1903
He was born in July 1892, in Croxdale, Co Durham, his father Edward Maughan was a boot dealer, and his mother was called Elizabeth Jane. The resided at 35 Mortimer Road. But by 1911 they had moved to 40 Oxford Avenue. South Shields.
Henry (Harry) Maughan attended Westoe Secondary School and became an apprentice in his father's business when he left school.
He enlisted 24th August 1914 at South Shields for the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was posted to the 7th Royal Sussex Regiment.
While serving at home Henry was treated at Shorncliffe Hospital, Kent, for 18 days for a "relapse" of gonorrhoea. He was then posted to France on the 28th of May, 1915.
In March, 1916, he received a gunshot wound to his left leg and was returned home to Chichester where on three occasions he was confined to barracks for not being where he should be.
He returned to active service via Etaples, France in August, 1916, rejoining his Battalion on the 23rd August 1916.
Whilst training in the field he was wounded during bomb practice, and was admitted to the Field Ambulance Ward. He then sustained a gunshot wound to his scalp.
Three days later, he received another gunshot wound to his head, but soon returned to duty.
After leave back in the UK, Henry returned to his Battalion on the 18th February, 1917.
In May that year, he and two others left their lines to reconnoitre at the Arras front and were attacked by a group of Germans. After defeating them in hand-to-hand combat, the group returned to their lines.
Henry was promoted to Lance Corporal, and was awarded the Military Medal. He is also reported to have released a number of other soldiers who had been taken prisoners of war and were being held in dugouts.
On the 25th November 1917, he was reported missing and was later officially regarded as have died or been killed in action.
After the war, it was the Mayor's wish to present the Military Medal to Henry's father, but red tape got in the way. The Mayor was informed that a civilian could not present the medal, and that it had to be presented to the next of kin by a parade of troops or by registered post.
After some correspondence between the Mayor and the War Office, the Mayor presented Henry's father with the Military Medal in January, 1919.
Source: Folkestone Then and Now Photo of Shorncliffe Hospital. With Thanks.
Henry Maughan is remembered at Harton on H104.03, at South Shields on S86.027 in S86.086 page 10, and S86.108
South Shields Grammar School
The CWGC entry for Lance Corporal Maughan