Archer was born in 1891, Ossett Dewsbury, the son of Harrop and Hannah. In 1901 the family were living at Runtlings Lane, Ossett. Harrop was a Woollen Rag salesman and  had a family of 7 children living at home.

On 13 Feb 1915 Archer married Hetty Morris in Dewsbury, Yorkshire.

Jan Cook