Editing Henry Wilcoxon (section)

==Early life==
Wilcoxon was born on 8 September 1905 in [[Roseau]], [[Dominica]] (then administered as part of the [[British West Indies]]). His father was English-born Robert Stanley 'Tan' Wilcoxon, manager of the [[Republic Bank|Colonial Bank]] in Jamaica<ref name="DeMercado">[http://www.demercado.com/ansell.htm ''The deMercado Family Website'' "Monthly Comments: Jamaica" Vol. 6 – 'Memories and Reflections,' by Ansell Hart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724033555/http://www.demercado.com/ansell.htm |date=24 July 2008 }}. Retrieved 7 August 2008</ref> and his mother, Lurline Mignonette Nunes, was a Jamaican amateur theatre actress, descendant of a wealthy Spanish merchant family.<ref name="DeMercado"/><ref name="Whizzbang13">[[Don Daynard|Daynard, Don]] ''Henry Wilcoxon'' in Peter Harris (ed.) ''The New [[Captain George's Whizzbang]]'' No. 13 (1971), pp. 2–7</ref><ref>[http://boards.ancestry.com.au/localities.caribbean.general/657/mb.ashx "BMD records"]. Retrieved 7 August 2008</ref>

Henry was close with his older brother, Robert Owen Wilcoxon, known as 'Owen'. Henry (known then by his born name, Harry) had a difficult childhood. His mother "disappeared suddenly and mysteriously" (presumably she died) when he was about a year old, and his father took him and Owen (aged four) to England with the intention that his own mother, Ann Wilcoxon, would care for them. But because the grandmother was too frail to care for the children, they were first sent to a bad [[foster home]], where they became ill from malnutrition and neglect until this was discovered by the authorities, and they were moved to an [[orphanage]]. Harry suffered from [[rickets]], and Owen developed a [[stutter]] and had [[epilepsy|epileptic]] fits.<ref>''Lionheart in Hollywood'', Prologue p.xv: "Tan advertised for a foster home and the brothers were sent to the first family that responded. There Harry and Owen were locked in an attic room and fed leftovers while the money and clothing that came with them went to the family's own children. Harry and Owen were kept in appalling conditions, both afflicted with lice, Harry crippled with rickets and Owen developed a lifelong stutter and epileptic fits.</ref> They were rescued from the orphanage to a new foster home run by the more caring Stewart family, at Springfield House in Acton, London.<ref>''Lionheart in Hollywood'', Prologue p.xvi: "Even when the abuse was discovered, neither father nor grandmother wanted to take them back; instead the boys were sent to an orphanage and might have remained there if a good foster home not heard of their plight and considered taking them in. The Stewart family (consisting mainly of maiden sisters), with a large house in Acton, accepted the abandoned children. The youngest, Ruth, took special care of Owen. Harry had atrocious behaviour but was taken in hand by an elder sister Sara.  The boys had to call each sister "Auntie", were taught table manners, sent to Sunday school, tutored in school work and Harry's legs fitted with braces.</ref><ref>The 1911 census shows Harry and Owen Wilcoxon with the Stewart family at Springfield House, Horn Lane, Acton. They are Charlotte Stewart (age 80) and single daughters Harriet (49), Caroline (48), Sara (39), Kathleen (37) and Ruth (34). Also a son John (41) with his wife Florence (33). The house had 18 rooms.</ref> After several years Harry's father 'Tan', with his new wife Rosamond took the children home with them to [[Bridgetown]], Barbados, where they were educated. Harry was sent to [[Wolmer's Schools|Wolmer's Boys School]] in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] and [[Harrison College (Barbados)|Harrison College]], Barbados. Harry later claimed that at 14 he was 'almost' the underwater swimming champion of Barbados<ref>''Lionheart in Hollywood'', p.29, p.86. Twice in the biography Henry is quoted as saying he was ''almost'' the underwater swimming champion of Barbados.</ref> and good enough to become a [[Wreck diving|salvage diver]].<ref name="Whizzbang13"/>

Harry and his brother Owen were known as 'Biff' and 'Bang' to friends and family due to fighting skills gained in amateur boxing.