Harry Wincott

Harry Wincott (1 January 1867 – 20 April 1947) was an English songwriter, born Alfred James Walden in Lambeth, London.

On 23 March 1889, he married his cousin, Eliza Mary Ann Dyer, in Leeds. They moved back to London and there had eight children between 1892 and 1902. She died in 1926. On 6 March 1937, when he was 70 years-old, Wincott married his second wife, Margaret ‘Daisy’ Pink at Lambeth Registry Office.[1]

Wincott was the writer of many popular music hall and pub songs from the turn of the 20th century. His most prolific writing period was between 1890 and 1920 and he claimed to have produced more than 2000 songs in total. One of his earliest patrons was the father of Charlie Chaplin, who predicted 'that child will be a great comedian one day'. His works included 'The Old Dun Cow', 'Mademoiselle from Armentières', 'How's Your Father?', and 'Father's Got ‘em', which was to be performed by Debra Paget in the 1952 movie, Stars and Stripes, amongst many others.[2] Wincott composed songs for artists such as: Dan Leno, Marie Lloyd, Charles Austin, The Great Vance, Vesta Tilley, Florrie Forde, Harry Champion and Kate Carney. Possibly, his most well known song is 'The Little Shirt My Mother Made For Me', sung by Tom Wooton and subsequently recorded by Country Singer Marty Robbins and others.[3]

He died of gangrene of the legs in Yeovil, Somerset on 20 April 1947. He had been admitted to the local public assistance institution a couple of weeks previously, there being no spare bed at the local hospital. One of his last requests to his wife, Margaret Walden, was for a pint of beer.[4]