Person

Henry Ayre, known as Harry, was one of five sons of Thomas and Christina Ayre. He was born in South Shields on 15 January 1893. His father was not at home at the time the 1901 census was taken. Family members listed were his mother, four brothers and a sister. In May 1913 he sailed to Canada with his parents, his younger brother Charles and Elsie, his only sister. They found a house together in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan to live with his brother Frederick William who had arrived thirteen months earlier.

Harry enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) on 12 May 1915, three months before Frederick. He travelled to Camp Sewell in Manitoba to become private 441133 in 53rd Battalion. Four months later he embarked from Montreal, Quebec on the SS Missanabia with the 2nd Reinforcing Draft of the Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Robert Combe.

Once in England they were based at Shorncliffe Camp in Kent until April 1916 when Private Ayre was taken on the strength of the 5th Battalion and posted to France. Harry was in hospital in France for a week in August 1916 with a sprained ankle.

In September 1916 Harry was fighting in the trenches at the Somme. His unit received orders to attack on 26 September 1916 and this is where Harry was shot in the shoulder. After initial treatment at a dressing station ,he was invalided to 1st General Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Treated there for eight weeks he was then sent to Bearwood Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Berkshire for a further three weeks. On his discharge he was posted to the 15th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott, Hampshire.

In June 1918 Harry was back in France with his old battalion (5th). He served in the trenches at Arras and Amiens. After a double tot of rum to end what the men called “a perfect day” on 11 November 1918 the Battalion found out that they were to be included in an Army of Occupation. This meant a long march to the German frontier. On 13 December 1918 the Battalion marched with bayonets fixed into Cologne.

After spending Christmas and New Year in Germany, Harry’s battalion moved into Belgium in February prior to a return to England. Harry returned to Canada in mid April 1919 the only one of the three Ayre brothers who served in the CEF to do so.

Harry found lodgings in Saskatoon after the war as his parents had moved to Calgary, Alberta. He found work as a clerk. On 23 April 1928 he married American Florence Lucille Whitacre and they had a daughter named Audrey Elaine.

Private 441133 Harry Ayre died of bronchopneumonia in Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia on 8 March 1974, two days after an operation for a fractured left hip. He was later cremated.

Civil Parish: South Shields

Birth date: 15-Jan-1893

Death date: 08-Mar-1974

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 157 Eglesfield Road, South Shields (1891 census)
1402 22nd Street W, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (1916 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Alberta)
408 Avenue H, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (1921 Canadian census)
1308 Broadway, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (1935 voters list)
307 5558 15B Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia (1974 death certificate)

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Labourer (1915 enlistment papers)
Clerk (1921 Canadian census)
Mail clerk (1935 voters list)
Civil servant (1974 death certificate)

Family: Parents: Thomas Ayre, Christina Ayre nee Birbeck
Siblings: George Thomas Ayre, Joseph Ayre, Frederick William Ayre, Charles W Ayre, Elsie Ayre
Wife: Florence Lucille Ayre nee Whitacre
Children: Audrey Elaine Ayre

Military service:

441133
Private
53rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
5th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
15th Reserve Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force

Gender: Male

Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham