Cann, Henry Herbert Edward (1058)

Place of Birth: Croydon, England

Age: 21 years 1 month

Enlistment Details: Tuesday, 13 July 1915 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 1058            view online service record

Address:
189 Rouse Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Next of Kin:
William Cann (father)
189 Rouse Street
Port Melbourne, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Tuesday, 9 November 1915
Ship: HMAT Beltana A72
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 30th Infantry Battalion

Fate:
RTA: Thursday, 29 May 1919
Discharged: Monday, 22 September 1919

Harry, as he was known, was an unmarried biscuit maker when he enlisted at the age of 21. The family moved from Rouse Street to 211 Princes Street as shown in a letter on his war record from Margaret Cann (his mother?) to the military authorities dated 6 March 1916.

Harry’s father William ran a pram building business, London Prams, in Lalor Street. During the 1930s depression William fed needy school children from nearby Nott Street School in the corner of the workshop. After three years it was shut down due to hygiene concerns but unpreturbed he set up a proper kitchen, hired a cook and continued to feed the children.

H H E Cann is listed on the Roll of Honour for the Port Melbourne Branch of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society (PAFS)

1917 ‘PORT P.A.F.S.’, Port Melbourne Standard (Vic. : 1914 – 1920), 20 January, p. 3. , viewed 29 Dec 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88370019