Harry John Ide was born in Portsea, Hampshire, England on 17 May 1880. He was the son of Harry Ide (b. 1853) and Kate Payne (b. 1853), Hampshire natives who had married in 1877.

Harry had six known siblings: Kate Frances (b. 1881), Willis Ailmore (b. 1882), Hester (b. 1884), Mabel Martha (b. 1885), George (b. 1888), Frederick Joseph (b. 1891)

Harry first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were living at 1 King Street in Portsea, Hampshire. and his father was described as a sick berth steward in the Royal Navy. He and his family had shifted to 24 Mayo (?) Street, Portsea by the time of the 1891 census. His father died sometime after this and by the time of the 1901 census his mother was a widow and now living in Herefordshire at 8 Horns Mill Cottages in Hertford. Harry was absent and perhaps already at sea. His mother was remarried later in 1901 to Henry Carlton Whiting (b. 1876 in Sawston, Cambridgeshire). She settled in Hertfordshire and died in 1943.

Harry had been married in 1905 to Ethel Jack Cross (b. 8 January 1884 in Norfolk) and the couple initially had three children: Henry Jack (1906-1999), Willis James (1907-1982), Kathleen Ethel (1910-1932) and the family are listed on the 1911 census living at 114 Lyon Street, Southampton and Harry was described as a bedroom steward for the White Star Line. Harry and his wife would have another son on 11 April 1912, Ernest Hope (d. 2001).

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Harry gave his address as 114 Lyon Street, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a bedroom steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Harry Ide died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in an unidentified newspaper:

IDE--April 15th 1912, on the s.s. Titanic, Harry John, the dearly loved and loving husband of Ethel J. Ide, deeply mourned by his heartbroken wife and babies, aged 32. Safe in God's keeping until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

His widow Kate never remarried and remained in Southampton where she died on 1 December 1955.

Harry is mentioned on the family headstone in Hollybrook Cemetery, Southampton (section L11, PLOT 161).