JENNY Young’s grandfather Henry Herbert Troke, known as Harry, was already a seasoned soldier before the First World War.

Moordown born Harry, a labourer, was the eldest of seven children. He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment, aged 20, in 1892 and was actively engaged in the North West Frontier campaigns in India and received the India Medal with clasps for the Punjab Frontier and Tirah 1897-98.

“Harry saw further action with the regiment in the Boer War 1901-02 and was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal together with battle clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal and also the King’s South Africa Medal,” said Jenny.

On returning to Moordown he married Martha Toomer and the first of their eight children was born.

At the outbreak of war Harry transferred to the Rifle Brigade and in December 1914 landed in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force.

“He was 42 years old, ten days short of what they called an ‘old contemptible’, a fact which my grandmother Martha never let him forget,” said Jenny.

They were sent to reinforce depleted forces after the battles of the Aisne and the first battle of Ypres. Harry then briefly returned to England as part of the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade.

“Despite his age, then 43, Harry returned to France with the 8th Battalion Rifle Brigade in May 1915, taking part in the Action of Hooge. The division were the first to be attacked by flamethrowers,” said Jenny.

Further action was seen by the 8th Battalion at the Battle of Delville Wood at the Somme in 1916, Arras in 1917 and Passchendaele.

Some point during this time, Harry due to his age and physical condition, was transferred to the Labour Corps where he saw out the end of the war.

“His military service did not end there, Harry then enlisted with the Hampshire Regiment in July 1919. Although the war had officially ended there was still a military commitment to be maintained with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

He landed in France in August, but was discharged sick in December, after a service of 27 years in the British Army,” said a proud Jenny.

He returned to Moordown where he and Martha had a further three children, including Jenny’s father Norman.

Harry died in 1944 as Norman was on a ship headed for Canada where he was stationed with the RAF.