Harry Anstee (b 1886)

by Gary. M. Anstey, chief researcher of the Anstey story project.

See ‘Anstey: A Complete History From the Norman Invasion to World War One‘ for much more on the Houghton Regis Anstees. In addition to biographies of various Anstey individuals who make up this sub-branch, the book contains a plethora of Anstey research and statistics, including an analysis of how the Houghton Regis Anstees fit into the pedigree descendent from Hubert de Anesti, the 12th century originator of the ‘Anstey’ surname.

HR 28. Harry Anstee: Known as Henry, he was born on 10 April 1886 in Walworth to parents James John Anstee (HR 21) and Susan Blackburn. He grew up living at at Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth and by the 1901 Census he was a van guard living with his family at 10, Waverley Road, Paddington. He married Edith Margaret Corbishley in 1907 in Paddington having children in Paddington:

• Henry Anstee (b 1907, died an infant?);
• Hilda Marian Anstee (b 1908);
• Alma Ada Anstee (b 1910); and
• Henry C. Anstee (b 1912).

By the 1911 Census he was a porter living with his wife and two daughters at 9 Woodfield Place Harrow Road W., Paddington.

At some point soon after the outbreak of World War One, he signed up for active service with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps as a Private (Service Number: R12323). Unfortunately we are unable to locate any of his Service Records, so we cannot reveal much of his war story, but we do know that he entered the “France Theatre of War” on 25 November 1915.

We also know that per the ‘War Office Daily List No.5400‘ dated 26 October 1917 “H. Anstee King’s Royal Rifle Corps Private 12323 [was] wounded” and therefore entitled to wear a “wound stripe“. In this report his ‘next of kin’ was given as “Paddington, W.“

We also know that in the 1919 ‘Absent Voter Lists‘ appears “Anstee Harry, 16 Goldney Road Paddington R/12323 Rflmn K. R. R“

Finally, we know that for his services, he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory, and British War medals [Note: There is a remark on his Medal Index Card that notes “Trans Z (or L?) A. R.” – we are not entirely sure what that means]

From these snippets, we can suppose that he served on the Western Front in France throughout 1916 and early 1917, though as we do not have any details of his Battalion we can elaborate no further than that – anybody who can enlighten us in this manner please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.

After his discharge, presumably in 1919, he returned to live in Paddington (he was back living at 16 Goldney Road Paddington in the 1919 Electoral Register) and by the 1939 Register he and his wife Edith were living at 115 Droop Street, Queens Park, City Of Westminster, Paddington, where he was an “electric car driver“.

He died in 1948 in Paddington.

Anybody who would like to add anything to this biography, please contact us at research@theansteystory.com.