Harry was born in Montreal, Canada, the fifth of the seven children of Louis and Minerva Jassby, along with Lottie and David; the other children had been born in what is now Moldavia. Harry's father died in 1914 and at this time, two children were already at McGill University. Harry had been entered to study pharmacy there too.
He wanted to join the war effort but didn't want to be in the infantry, so left Canada in 1917 to serve with the RAF. He was based at Hainault as Second Lieutenant with 54 Training Depot Station ( TDS ) when only five days before the Armistice, on 6th November 1918 at age 22, his Sopwith Camel E1422 collided in mid-air with another aircraft and he crashed to his death.
In accordance with Jewish tradition, stones are placed by visitors to his grave which stands in the churchyard of St. Peter's at Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, only a mile or so from the airfield where he was based. His Commission Headstone bears the Star of David and the fact that a Jew is buried in a Christian churchyard often gives rise to the inevitable question! The policy at the time was that casualties should be interred as near as possible to where they died- the remains of Commonwealth service personnel were not repatriated, but it is said that when the 'mistake' was realized, the authorities offered to have Harry's remains re-interred elsewhere, but the family were content that his grave should not be disturbed.
A graveside memorial service involving members of the local Jewish community and conducted by a Rabbi from the Oaks Lane Synagogue takes place annually around the anniversary of his death and on the Jewish Remembrance Day, and this is generally well attended.
Bernie Harris and Julie Swinburne have tended the grave for years planting annuals and laying fresh flowers and it stands out as being one of the best kept graves in the churchyard.
He wanted to join the war effort but didn't want to be in the infantry, so left Canada in 1917 to serve with the RAF. He was based at Hainault as Second Lieutenant with 54 Training Depot Station ( TDS ) when only five days before the Armistice, on 6th November 1918 at age 22, his Sopwith Camel E1422 collided in mid-air with another aircraft and he crashed to his death.
In accordance with Jewish tradition, stones are placed by visitors to his grave which stands in the churchyard of St. Peter's at Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, only a mile or so from the airfield where he was based. His Commission Headstone bears the Star of David and the fact that a Jew is buried in a Christian churchyard often gives rise to the inevitable question! The policy at the time was that casualties should be interred as near as possible to where they died- the remains of Commonwealth service personnel were not repatriated, but it is said that when the 'mistake' was realized, the authorities offered to have Harry's remains re-interred elsewhere, but the family were content that his grave should not be disturbed.
A graveside memorial service involving members of the local Jewish community and conducted by a Rabbi from the Oaks Lane Synagogue takes place annually around the anniversary of his death and on the Jewish Remembrance Day, and this is generally well attended.
Bernie Harris and Julie Swinburne have tended the grave for years planting annuals and laying fresh flowers and it stands out as being one of the best kept graves in the churchyard.
Harry was born in Montreal, Canada, the fifth of the seven children of Louis and Minerva Jassby, along with Lottie and David; the other children had been born in what is now Moldavia. Harry's father died in 1914 and at this time, two children were already at McGill University. Harry had been entered to study pharmacy there too.
He wanted to join the war effort but didn't want to be in the infantry, so left Canada in 1917 to serve with the RAF. He was based at Hainault as Second Lieutenant with 54 Training Depot Station ( TDS ) when only five days before the Armistice, on 6th November 1918 at age 22, his Sopwith Camel E1422 collided in mid-air with another aircraft and he crashed to his death.
In accordance with Jewish tradition, stones are placed by visitors to his grave which stands in the churchyard of St. Peter's at Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, only a mile or so from the airfield where he was based. His Commission Headstone bears the Star of David and the fact that a Jew is buried in a Christian churchyard often gives rise to the inevitable question! The policy at the time was that casualties should be interred as near as possible to where they died- the remains of Commonwealth service personnel were not repatriated, but it is said that when the 'mistake' was realized, the authorities offered to have Harry's remains re-interred elsewhere, but the family were content that his grave should not be disturbed.
A graveside memorial service involving members of the local Jewish community and conducted by a Rabbi from the Oaks Lane Synagogue takes place annually around the anniversary of his death and on the Jewish Remembrance Day, and this is generally well attended.
Bernie Harris and Julie Swinburne have tended the grave for years planting annuals and laying fresh flowers and it stands out as being one of the best kept graves in the churchyard.
He wanted to join the war effort but didn't want to be in the infantry, so left Canada in 1917 to serve with the RAF. He was based at Hainault as Second Lieutenant with 54 Training Depot Station ( TDS ) when only five days before the Armistice, on 6th November 1918 at age 22, his Sopwith Camel E1422 collided in mid-air with another aircraft and he crashed to his death.
In accordance with Jewish tradition, stones are placed by visitors to his grave which stands in the churchyard of St. Peter's at Aldborough Hatch, Ilford, only a mile or so from the airfield where he was based. His Commission Headstone bears the Star of David and the fact that a Jew is buried in a Christian churchyard often gives rise to the inevitable question! The policy at the time was that casualties should be interred as near as possible to where they died- the remains of Commonwealth service personnel were not repatriated, but it is said that when the 'mistake' was realized, the authorities offered to have Harry's remains re-interred elsewhere, but the family were content that his grave should not be disturbed.
A graveside memorial service involving members of the local Jewish community and conducted by a Rabbi from the Oaks Lane Synagogue takes place annually around the anniversary of his death and on the Jewish Remembrance Day, and this is generally well attended.
Bernie Harris and Julie Swinburne have tended the grave for years planting annuals and laying fresh flowers and it stands out as being one of the best kept graves in the churchyard.
Inscription
In life he flew the azure sky. In death he flew to heaven high
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