Notes |
- Superintendent of Police 1955 - 1959 in Nigeria
- (Research):Possible brother George Hale Puckle, b1825; Suffolk, England
Possible sister Emily Hale, b1821, Kensington, Middlesex, England
Henry Puckle was born in Worthing, the son of Richard and Clementina Puckle. He was baptised at Broadwater Church on 5 Oct. Henry led an exciting life. In 1850, he was one of the men who launched a second boat off Worthing seafront to try and save the crew of the ill-fated "Lalla Rookh". 11 men died in this disaster. The same year Henry became a gentleman cadet at the East India Company's Addiscombe College in Croydon.
On 9 Dec 1852 he was appointed Ensign in 28th Madras Native Infantry in India. On 15 Sep 1857, Henry married his first cousin Louisa Hale Puckle at St Neot's Huntingdonshire. The couple went to India where in 1858 their daughter Eleanor Fanny was born. On 1 Nov that year, Henry was promoted to Lieutenant. A second daughter Millicent Louisa was born in Bengal in 1859. Sadly, both Eleanor and her mother Louisa died in 1860.
Henry was promoted to Captain in 1864. The following year, he married Cecilia Emily Tod on 9 Nov in India. George was born in Kamptee in 1867 followed by Emily born in Allahabad in 1868. Another son, John was born in Mussoorie in 1869. In 1872, Henry was promoted to Major with the Madras Staff Corps. Two years later back in England, daughter Christina was born at Sandgate in Kent. Two more children were born in India over the next few years. Thomas Norman in 1875 and Lucy in 1878. The same year, Henry was promoted to Lt. Colonel.
In 1880, Cecilia gave birth to a son Frederick Kaye in Worthing. She was staying with her aunt Emily Phillips in Chapel Road. Cecilia died on 1 Jun 1881 and was buried in Broadwater Cemetery. Henry was promoted to Colonel on 9 Dec 1881. In 1890 Henry married for the third time. The ceremony took place in Cape Town and his bride was Elinor Tempest Renny. This was also the year that Henry's mother Clementina died and Henry retired from the Army. The family moved to Tunbridge Wells where a daughter Ella was born. In 1892, Henry's son George died in the Canary Isles. Three more children were born to Henry and Elinor, Harry in 1894, Grace in 1895 and Nancy in 1898. In 1899, the family were living at "One Oak" Molyneux Park, Tonbridge Wells. Their youngest daughter Norah was born in 1900. The family moved to Scotland for a short time before finally settling back in Henry's home town of Worthing in 1908. Elinor died on 21 Mar that year and was buried at Heene without a funeral service. She and her husband were non-conformists and worshipped at Worthing Tabernacle. In 1914, Henry's son Thomas Norman was killed in action in Cameroon. He was buried in Nigeria. Henry had an interest in the Coalportage Association. This organisation was a source of inexpensive Christian literature. Henry died on 7 May 1916. Probate was granted on 23 May to John Bloomfield Braddon, gentleman. Effects ?1121 19s 6d (approx. ?66k in 2020). Henry was buried under the "Burial Law Act of Amendment 1888". A non-conformist service was performed by the Pastor of Worthing Tabernacle. In 1917, Henry's son John was killed in action off Greece. His memorial is on the family plot in Broadwater cemetery.
|