Henry Ewart Rawlings was born in 1886 in Cricklewood, Middlesex. 1 of 5 children born to Sarah & George, a railway engine driver.

In 1911 he is living with his family at 106 Chetwynd Road, Highgate, London, he is 25 years old & working as a railway clerk.

His mother Sarah is 55 & widowed, elder brother George is 28 a motor car engine fitter & younger brother Jack is a general clerk for a antiques dealer. They have a lodger living with them, 17 year old Sidney Beck who is working as a boy clerk for the government.

Henry enlisted into the 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment in St Albans.

After spending nearly 7 months training in Woking, Surrey,  the Battalion was sent to France, arriving on 30th August 1915, where they served in every major battle during the war.

In September 1915 the battalion fought in The Battle of Loos & in December of that year they were the first soldiers to experience the German's use of Phosgene gas, where hundreds of men lost their lives.

Henry died of wounds on 17th December 1915.

Henry is buried in the Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Deken de Bolaan, 8970 Poperinge, Belgium.