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Related by City - Topsham
Related by County - Devon
Topsham
Full name of worker at H.M. Factory Gretna (and any other names they are known by) : Henry [Harry] Wanell [Wennell] Luscombe
Gender: Male
Date and place of birth: 19th July 1894 Topsham, Devon
Date and Place of Death: Q4 1964, Exeter
Nationality: British
Disability : Yes- withered right leg as a result of a childhood break
Childhood: Eldest of 2 boys
Parents: Leonard John and Eva nee Wanell
Parents occupations: Father an asylum assistant ( medical doctor on Henry’s marriage registration) Mother a grocer
Schools / universities attended and years of attendance: N/K
Occupation: Tailor ( chargehand/chemist at Gretna)
Place of residence at Gretna: C5 East, Eastriggs
Marital status: Married
Children: Yes
Travels: N/K
Awards/recognitions: failed attempts at channel swim. Light heavyweight boxing champion Gretna March 1917
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Mini Biography
Henry [Harry] Wenell [Wanell] Luscombe 1894-1964
Henry [Harry}Wennell ,Luscombe was born on the 19th July 1894 at Topsham, Devon to Leonard John and Eva nee Wanell/Wenell
1891 -father a baker
1901- living at “Underway”, Topsham , Eva head of family. Married not widowed the wife of an assistant at asylum. Henry the eldest of 2. Father an asylum assistant at Digby Asylum , Exeter listed on a separate sheet.
1911 Eva head , married and a rocer and at home own account. 2 sons , 5 Rooms The Strand , Topsham . Henry an apprentice tailor.
1911- father at Exeter Asylum – an assistant at asylum
WW1- employed at Gretna as a chargehand ( electoral register) living at C5 East. Unfit for active service due to “ withered right leg as a result of a break in early life “
“ Mr H Luscombe, the well known Devon swimmer , who is now working at Gretna on munitions , last week won the light heavyweight boxing championship of the factory”
21st March 1917 Western Times
26th November 1918 married Emily Harper Lowe at Birse, Aberdeenshire, Henry described as a chemist of C5 Hostel, Eastriggs, Dornock and Leonard his father a medical doctor. Emily aged 19 a domestic servant. Perhaps she was also at Gretna.
1927 and 1928 attempted to swim the English Channel as described in the following link although many of the other facts are incorrect. Mainly his lack of a leg and his father’s occupation.
1939- master tailor of 18 Parkfield Rd , St Thomas , Devon
Q4- 1964, died at Exeter
Topsham