Henry L. Townley

Rifleman, London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)

Henry L. Townley, son of Charles and Fanny Lawrence and adopted son of Henry Townley, was a student at Alleyn's until 1909. After leaving Alleyn's, he decided to continue his education and went to a college in Brunswick to acquire a more thorough knowledge of German. When war broke out in August 1914, he was working with Messrs Mathias and Carot and left the firm to join the British Army as a part of the Queen's Westminster Rifles. During his time with the Queen's, Henry served overseas on the Western Front as a Private and saw action in France and Flanders. 

In 1916, he was serving at the front during a major British Offensive on the Somme when he received a severe head wound in battle which resulted in him being transferred back home to England to recover. After a short time in England, Henry appeared to be healing well from his injury, but meningitis later followed upon the wounds he had received in action and he died somewhat suddenly on June 10th 1917. He is buried at West Norwood Cemetery.

Photo of his gravestone is courtesy of the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery.