Born Leighton Buzzard. Private. Died of wounds, France and Flanders, 5/12/17 at 29th Casualty Clearing Station, France. Pte Janes is buried in the Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this man: Private Harry Janes was born in 1879 in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, a son of David Janes and Sarah Jane Janes née Emmerson. His father was Iron Moulder and the 1881 census shows the family living in Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard. By the time of the 1891 census the family was living at 23 Fulbrook Road, Islington and in 1901 he was living with his mother and siblings at 216 Kentish Town Road and his occupation on the census return was recorded as a Carman.
In 1903 he married Elizabeth Caroline Squirrell and the marriage was registered in St. Pancras. The 1911 census shows him living with his wife and four children, Violet, Emma, Harry and Lily at 15 Torriano Mews, Torriano Avenue, St Pancras and his occupation is listed as Carman Removals. He enlisted in the 19th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (St Pancras) at their Camden recruiting office, giving his address as Highgate Road. He was given the service number 2204 which would indicate a joining date between 4 August 1914 (the day war was declared) and 2 September 1914.
He entered France on 10 March 1915 and stayed there until 20 May 1915. He served a second tour of duty abroad from 30 March 1916 until 19 June 1916. In 1917 the service numbers in the Battalion were renumbered and his was changed to 610153. His third tour of duty abroad was from 8 February 1917 until he died from his wounds on 5 December 1917, aged 37 years, at the 29th Casualty Clearing Station that was located in Grevillers, Pas de Calais, France. He was buried in Grave IX. C. 1. at the Grevillers British Cemetery. On 14 April 1918 his widow received his £11-4s-8d back pay and on 6 September 1919 a War Gratuity of £15. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
