London 25th Regt

Medal card : W.O.Cl.II - 25th London Regt.
His pension record shows he joined the 1/25th Londons. He transferred to the 3/25th in 1915¹.
Medal roll :- A/RSM., 25 Lond R., Infantry Base Depot WO/C1.2 1(a) France 10.5.18 to 27.8.18., Posted 10th London R. 1(a) France 28.8.18 to 20.9.18.
His pension record does not record his war years but mentions that he was formerly of the 26th Middlesex Cyclists.
[¹ 'The London Cyclist Battalion', pg.271 - Sergeant Majors, 3/25th, 1915-1918 H. Mead (formerly 1/25th)]

Henry was born on the 29 Sep 1888 in Hoxton, London, the son of Joseph William Mead, a cabinet maker, and Susannah Elizabeth (nee Williams). He married Eleanor Joyes on the 5th of December 1914 in St. James Church, Croydon. Before enlisting he was a bank clerk. He died in 1960.

Service pension record

Enlisted in the 1/25th London Bn on the 14 Apr 1908.
Previous service with the 26th Middlesex Cyclists, the forerunner of the 25th Londons.
Born - Clapton, London.
Address - 150 Melfields Rd, Clapton.
Occupation - Clerk
Annual training :-
                         1908 - Battle, Sussex, from 15 Aug to 29 Aug.
                         1909 - Lewes from 1 Aug to 8 Aug.
                         1911 - Rye from 5 Aug to 13 Aug
                         Bury St. Edmonds from 7 Sep to 14 Sep.

In June 2014 Henry's binoculars came up for auction on Ebay. They are inscribed near the eyepieces with the name Sergnt HE Mead and 1/25th Co of London Regiment. On the barrels is enscribed Oulton Broad Platoon LVTC 1915. Oulton Broad is a region of Lowestoft and LVTC refers to the Lowestoft Voluteer Training Corps (Volunteer Training Corps were the WW1 equivalent of the Home Guard in WW2). In 1915 the 1/25th London were headquartered in Lowestoft having been on observation duty on the east coast.