MAXIM, Harry



No.3163, Private, Harry MAXIM
Aged 30


1st Coy., Australian Machine Gun Corps
Killed in Action on Wednesday 19th July 1916


Harry Maxim was born in Cavendish (Sudbury Q1-1887 4A:646), son of Robert and Caroline MAXIM (née ALEFOUNDER). There are problems here as there appear to be two Harry Maxim born in the district around the same year and also 2 Caroline Maxim born same year. In addition various illegitimate children used either MAXIM or ALEFOUNDER indiscriminately. The details here seems certainly to be correct, however the William MAXIM on the memorial is more problematical.

1891 census...Aged 5, he was at Chapel Street, Cavendish with his father Robert MAXIM [49] matting maker born Hundon; his mother Caroline [44]; half-sisters Charlotte ALEFOUNDER [25]; sisters Alice [11], Annie [7] and Beatrice [6]; brothers John [17] matting maker, William [14] maltster, David [9] and George [3]; widowed grandmother Eurydice CUTMORE [75]. All except his father were born in Cavendish.

1901 census...Aged 15, a butcher's boy, he was at Lower Street, Cavendish with his father; brothers George ? [32] [labourer] and George [13](mat maker). His mother was visiting Cavendish born Eliza MOON in Lambeth.

1911 census...Aged 25 he was in Australia. His mother had died in 1910 and his father (builder's labourer) and brother George [43] (farm labourer) were still in Cavendish.

His brother William died in Belgium in 1915 see here




He enlisted on 8th August 1915 at Warwick Farms, New South Wale, living at Terminus Hotel, Hay, New South Wales, giving his age as 29 years 7 months, born Cavendish, Suffolk, next of kin his father Robert of High Street, Cavendish. He was 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm)tall, weighed 146 lbs (66.4 kg), chest 34" to 36" (86.4 to 91.4 cm), blue eyes, light brown hair, Church of England. He was a butcher and had served a 5 years apprenticeship with Samuel Hall.
As No 3163, he was posted to the 19th Battalion 18th August 1915 to 13th February 1916. It has not been found when he left Australia, but on 14th February 1916 he was posted to the 4th Battalion From Egypt on 22nd March 19166 he left Alexandria on the HMTS Grampian, arriving in Marseilles on 28th and joining the 1st Company of the 1st Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Corps.
The notification of his death was sent to his father at High Street Cavendish and then the address is changed to 30 Pelham Road, Ilford which was also the address of his sister Mrs Emily Whisker.
His father received a pension of 5 shillings (25p) per fortnight and also the personal possessions of Harry which were 2 discs, photos, letter, discharge certificates, silver brooch, silver medallion, 3 coins, penknife, watch, 2 metal chains, 2 testaments and a wallet.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The absence (I could not find it anyway) of the war diary means I could not say where he was killed. The 19th July was the Battle of Fromelles, the 1st action of the Australian Imperial Force in the war, but that is nearer the Belgian border. Nearer to Albert the 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions were preparing for their attack on Pozieres on 22/23rd July.


photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Harry Maxim is buried in Albert, Bapaume Post Military Cemetery, grave 1:F:4

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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