Regiment: 14th Battalion (London Scottish), London Regiment
Service No: 8042
Date & place of birth: 2 July 1895, Tillington, Sussex
Date & place of death: 13 September 1916 (aged 21), France
Despite his father being a Colonel in the army and having gone to a public school and Cambridge University, where he was in the OTC, Henry Seymour Skinner joined the army as a private. He enlisted in the army less than five months before he died.
Family background
Henry Seymour Skinner was the son of Colonel Theodore Skinner, (died 1914) and his wife, Margaret Skinner of Gore Hill House, Tillington. He was christened at Tillington on 14 August 1895 and had an elder sister Mary Dorothy. He was educated at Radley College and Jesus College Cambridge; at both places he was in the Officer’s Training Corps.
Military service
Henry enlisted at Petworth into the London Scottish in May 1916 and served in France and Flanders from 13 July 1916.
Death and commemoration
Henry died at No 5 Casualty Clearing station from wounds received at the Battle of the Somme aged 21 and is buried at Corbie Communal extension. He received the British and Victory medals.