Harry Mildenhall was born in the autumn of 1873 in Eton, Buckinghamshire. The third of six children, his parents were Henry and Harriet Mildenhall. Henry was a groom, and the family lived on first on Mill Lane, before moving to Alma Road in nearby Boveney, by the time of the 1891 census.

The next census return, taken in the spring of 1901, recorded Harry as having left home. Initially apprenticed to house painter Glen Rowland, the document found him as boarding with his employer at 1 Thames View, Clewer, on the outskirts of Windsor, Berkshire.

It was not long before Harry would set out on his own. On 14th April 1906, he was living on Speedwell Street, Oxford. It was on that day that he married Annie Berridge in the parish church. Seven years her new husband’s junior, Annie was a labourer’s daughter, with a history of her own:

Annie Berridge (19), domestic servant, Peterborough, was charged with obtaining 4s. by false pretences from Martha Withers on Feb. 4th. The evidence showed that Berridge had been residing with Mrs Knighton of Wellington-street, who was known to Mrs Withers. On Monday week she visited the latter’s house at Oundle-road and stated that Mrs Knighton wanted to borrow 6s. In consequence Mrs Withers gave her 4s., but afterwards discovered that Mrs Knighton had never sent for the money. Accused pleaded guilty, electing to be dealt with summarily. The Bench gave defendant a chance to retrieve her character by dealing with her ad a first offender and binding her over to come up for judgment when called upon.

[Peterborough Standard: Saturday 16th February 1901]

But Annie was not done with the law just yet:

Annie Berridge (19), single soman, of no fixed abode, was charged with stealing from 11, City-road, a pair of shoes, value 4s. 6d., the property of Elizabeth Ryall, on the 24th. She was further charged with stealing from 7, Perseverance Cottages, Star-lane, money to the amount of 1s., the property of Ethel Norman, on the 18th. In the first care Elizabeth Ryall stated that accused asked for lodgings. She stayed one day and went out the following morning. As accused did not return witness looked round and missed a pair of shoes (produced), an old pair being left in their place. Detective-Sergeant Smith stated that he saw accused in Broadway on the 25th wearing the shoes missed by the previous witness. Accused, who cried bitterly, elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. The Chief Constable stated that a fortnight ago the accused was before the Bench and was then bound over to be of good behaviour. The Bench retired, and on their return into Court the Chairman stated that it appeared leniency was no good. That had been tried a fortnight previously, and a sentence of two months’ imprisonment would now be passed. The second charge was not proceeded with.

[Peterborough Standard: Saturday 2nd March 1901]

The 1902 census, taken just a month later, recorded Annie’s fate: she was imprisoned in Northampton Prison. Meeting Harry may have been what helped Annie back on the rails. After their wedding the couple took rooms at 6 Mill Street, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and went on to have three children: Edward, Albert and Annie.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1915, and, despite his age, Harry would step up to play his part. He enlisted in the Army Service Corps on 16th September 1915, his papers confirming that he was of Church of England by faith, and was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall.

Private Mildenhall was sent to France within a fortnight of enlisting, although his exact role is unclear. He certainly remained overseas until April 1917, when he returned home for three months. He returned to the fray in July 1917, transferring to the Labour Corps.

Harry next returned to Britain in May 1918. By this point, however, he had fallen ill, and was admitted to Station Road Hospital in Gillingham, Dorset, suffering from bronchitis. Any treatment proved to be too little, too late: Private Mildenhall died from heart failure at 8:15pm on 16th May 1918, at the age of 44 years old.

The body of Harry Mildenhall was laid to rest in Gillingham Cemetery, not far from the hospital where he had breathed his last.

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Of Annie there is no further record. The 1921 census records the three children boarding with separate families: Edward and Albert were living with the Bowd family at 35 Gracious Street, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Annie, meanwhile, was living with Joseph and Harriett Wing, just around the corner from her brothers at 5 Whitmore Street. The census records note that the children’s father was dead, but their mother alive.

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