Impson, Harry Frank
Surname: Impson
Forename(s): Harry Frank
Family: Son of Henry James Philip Impson and Hannah Elizabeth Impson (nee Harper)
Address: 83, Devonshire Street, Norwich, Norfolk
Rank: Private
Regiment and Battalion: 4th Battalion, The Norfolk Regiment
Service Number: 5072
Date of Death: 10th October 1917
Age at Death:
Location of Grave or Memorial: Died after discharge. If you know the location of his grave please let us know. Update 23rd February 2018: see the email below for further details.
Below is a copy of an email sent to our project website by Graham Huggins. Harry Frank Impson was his great uncle. Graham also kindly provided the portrait and additional documents for use on the database:
Hello
By chance I have just come across your web site and can provide some information on Harry Frank Impson who was my Great Uncle which may be of interest.
Harry was one of 14 children, though several died in childhood. He was born in 1895 and died Oct 10 1917 aged 22. According to the records in the Norfolk record office he was buried in Earlham Cemetery Section 47 plot number 976, I have tried to find the grave but unfortunately it appears to be unmarked.
Harry’s father was Henry James Philip Impson (1854-1918) and his mother Hannah Elizabeth (nee Harper) 1854-1927 both are also buried at Earlham.
I think Harry may have been baptised at St. Bartholomew’s along with a lot of his brothers and sisters as I have not been able to find any records relating to them and I understand the records were lost when it was bombed.
The family lived in 83 Devonshire Street on the 1891/1901/1911 census, on the 1881 they were in Albert Street Heigham. Henry Impson was an Iron Moulder.
On the 1911 census Harry was living at The Farm Grub Street Happisburgh as a farm labourer.
He enlisted Oct 5th 1915 in the 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment and was medical discharged May 13 1916, I do have a copy of his war record, unfortunately the original is blurred in places and combined with the handwriting I cannot quite make out the exact reason but it does state “Permanent will get worse”.
From the date of his discharge until his death it seems he was classified as a “Chelsea” Pensioner number 33807/E
Three of his brothers were also in the Army, the oldest Ebernezer was a career soldier having joined the Royal Engineers by 1896 at least and ended up as a Warrant Officer Class 2 ,he lived in Brentford after leaving the army, Clifford was also in the Royal Engineers from Nov 1914 as a sapper and Stanley was a driver in the Army Service Corp. Both returned to Norwich and remained so for the rest of their lives.
I have attached a copy of Harry’s war record (please excuse the separate pages, having some computer problems), also there are two photos, one is a portrait of him in uniform and the other is Group picture which was on a postcard he sent to one of his sisters (my grandmother). It is dated November 14th 1915 Halton Camp, Harry is the second soldier standing from the right.
I wish you all the best with your project, and hopefully many of the names on the memorial become more than just names.
If you want any more information on the Impson’ I will do my best to assist.
Best Regards
Information Recorded by: Pete (42) and Neil (45)
