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go to fight in the war. He sailed for Mesopotamia in April 1916 and was posted as missing on 30th April 1917. On 6th September 1917, Harry was identified as a prisoner of war and unfortunately died of dysentery whilst in captivity on 31st December 1917.
Private Harry William Finch
South Wales Borderers 4th Battalion, service no. 9095
Died December 31st, 1917 in Baghdad, aged 30
Buried at Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery, Iraq
Harry was born on 18th March 1888 in Bermondsey, London, son of Henry Finch and his wife Margaret Bertha (née Jackson). He was baptised in March 1890 alongside four of his siblings in St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey.
His father died in 1901 and his widowed mother became a dressmaker and needle worker, later remarrying in 1906.
Harry joined the 5th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, Surrey Regiment in 1905 and was
transferred to the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers in 1906.
He married Amy Esther Church in Southwark, London in 1909 and was then posted to Brecon and set up home in John Street. They had two daughters, Amy Bertha Myfanwy, born 1910 and Millicent Iris, born 1916.
Harry continued his army career eventually becoming of sergeant. He trained soldiers to fight in the war and eventually gave up his sergeant’s stripes so that he too could