Henry Short (abt. 1903 - 1969)

Born about 1903 in Bristol, England

Ancestors

Died 25 Nov 1969 at about age 66 in Albury, NSW

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Biography

(The following information is primarily from Belle Rosser)

Belle recounted that Harry was a war correspondent before joining the Air Force. He served in the RAAF during WWII, and was a Prisoner of War at Changi, where she said he was tortured by the Japanese and was never the same when he returned.

John Haberecht: On a visit to Changi in about 2015, I searched in vain for his name in the lists of prisoners.

After returning from the war he lived on the streets, and was a familiar figure in Albury, wearing his greatcoat summer and winter. Belle reports that he would go to the hospital every couple of months and would be shaved and cleaned up by the nursing staff. He lived with the family for a time but it seems that Belle and Les were concerned that he might harm Joy or Gaie, as his behaviour was somewhat erratic - this was all after returning from having been a POW in Changi.

In May 1919, Harry was working at the Britannia Café in Murphy Street, Wangaratta, owned by C. Comino. He wrote to Mrs Davis (Les's foster mother) on 8 May to tell her about Nellie's death, although he doesn't come out directly and say that she has died. He also mentions that Mrs Davis had apparently been bitten by a dog and been in hospital in Berrigan.

He says that Mrs Davis will be able to get more details about Nellie from a Mrs Searle of 51 Russell Street Melbourne, who has written to Harry about Nellie. Harry says he is enclosing the letters from Mrs Searle, and in a post script asks Mrs Davis not to destroy them.

On 29 Mar 1920, Harry was working at the Buffalo Brewery, Wangaratta.

Burial

Burial:

Place: Albury, NSW

Sources

Notes