ERNEST BOOTH

ERNEST BOOTH

Private 10821

1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters

Died from wounds - 15th May 1915

On the top row, fourth column of the St Barnabas Church Memorial is the name G Booth.   As far as I can ascertain this inscription belongs to Ernest Booth, the G should be an E. 

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives the name Ernest Booth, son of Mr J Booth of 141 High Street, New Whittington; Private 10821 who died on 15th May 1915 aged 27 years old.  

Ernest was born in the spring of 1888 in the hamlet of Seymour close to the village of Staveley in Chesterfield.  He was the son of Joseph and Bridget Booth.  Joseph and Bridget married in 1882, their first son was born on 6th January 1883.  Named William Arthur he was baptised later that month on 25th January 1883. William was named after his maternal Grandfather William Gregory.

Two years later the Booth family celebrated the birth of a second son, this time named after his father, Joseph.  Baby Joseph was baptised on 7th February 1884 but sadly little Joseph died three months later and he was buried on 20th May 1884.

Next came a little girl named May, she was baptised on 4th June 1885 and was followed three years later by Ernest who was baptised on 5th April 1888.  Another brother followed Ernest in 1890 James was born, he was baptised on 21st January 1891.

The 1891 census shows the Booth family living at Lowgates, Staveley.  Joseph was aged 37 years old and worked as a coal miner, Bridget was a few years younger aged 31 years old.  Bridget had help from her widowed mother 61 year old Sarah Gregory who also lived with the family at this time.

Emily Booth was baptised on 4th January 1893, finally a sister for 7 year old May Booth.  The family moved from Lowgates at sometime during the next years as on the 1901 census they were living at 7 Springwell Row in New Whittington (next door to the Clewley family, Tom Clewley was also to lose his life during the Great War).  Ernest was aged 13 years old and has no documented occupation, his father and elder brother "Arthur" (William Arthur) were both working as coal miners. 

Military life beckons....

Ernest left his family and New Whittington to join the army.  He was 20 years and 3 months old when he enlisted to the Sherwood Foresters on 10th June 1908.  The service records have survived for Ernest and can be found on the Ancestry website.

Vital statistics for Ernest Booth on enlistment
www.ancestry.co.uk



Ernest was a tall young man at 6 feet in height, he weighed 164 lbs and was described as having grey eyes and dark hair.  He was recorded on the service record as having been employed as a coal miner prior to enlistment.

Ernest was now known as Private 10821 of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  He was thrown straight into his basic training which he undertook from 10th June 1908 until 4th January 1909.  On the 5th January 1909 Ernest set sail on a great adventure for a young man from New Whittington, he was off to India. 

The battalion were stationed at Secunderabad until 1912 when they moved on to Bombay.  Ernest would find himself in a totally new world, a world of extreme heat with the risk of disease, of a totally different culture.  Ernest most certainly would have experienced life from a new perspective than the small village of New Whittington where the men folk disappeared down the mine shafts to work each day.

The 1911 census shows Ernest was stationed in India as part of the British Army who were there to oversee Imperial affairs.  He served a total of 5 years 241 days in India.

Life back in England....

Joseph and Bridget Booth remained in New Whittington, Joseph was 57 years old by now and still worked as a coal miner hewer.  Some of the family had also fled the nest but James (22 years old) and Emily (19 years old) remained at the family home of 205 High Street, New Whittington.  There is a new addition to the family however, a little girl named Ethel Booth is recorded on the 1911 census page, she is noted as "Grand daughter" of Joseph.

William Arthur is living just up the road at number 133 High Street, New Whittington.  He is aged 28 years old and is employed as a coal miner hewer.  William is recorded as being single but the 1911 census appears to show that he is living as a married couple with a lady named Hannah Binns.  Hannah has a son named Henry Binns who was 9 years old on the census and born in Bradford.  Then there are two more children; William Arthur Booth aged 5 years old and Albert Ernest Booth aged 3 years old.  Both children were born in New Whittington.

May Booth married a local lad named Joseph Bennison, they married in 1906.  The young couple had made their home at 7 Queen Street, Warsop and had a young son named George Bennison aged just 3 years old.  The young girl living with Joseph and Bridget Booth as their grand daughter looks likely to have been the daughter of May Booth prior to her marriage to Joseph Bennison (the birth certificate would be required to confirm my theory).  Ethel May Booth was baptised at St Barnabas Church on 14th April 1904, the daughter of a May Booth.

Ernest's war....

On 31st August 1914 the Battalion received orders to prepare to return to England, they were stationed in Bombay at the time.  Embarkation was rushed but on 2nd September the troops set sail on the H.T Thongwa for England, calling at Aden and Port Said en-route they arrived in Plymouth at 12 noon on 2nd October 1914.  The H.T Thongwa was a passenger/cargo ship built for the use of the British India Company in 1903.  It was commissioned by P&O in June of 1914 and later that year became the Indian Expeditionary Force transport ship, returning the troops to England to join the British Expeditionary Force.

The men moved on to camp at Hursley Park where they remained until they received orders and commenced marching to Southampton at 14.30 on 4th November 1914. 

The 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters set sail for Le Havre at 1am on 5th November 1914 on board the S.S Cardiganshire.  Having spent one month on British soil, hopefully Ernest was granted leave to return home to New Whittington and spend some time with his family there. Ernest and his comrades of the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters found themselves setting out to fight and survive in the bitter winter months of Europe, a far cry from the tropical heat they had become accustomed to in India.

The battalion went straight into action, seeing their first battle only days later on 16th November 1914.  In the coming few days the battalion gave the following figures - "other ranks; 4 killed, 18 wounded, 1 missing".

The tremendous difference in the climate can be seen when on the 24th November 1914 at Red Barn the war diary states "There were a large number of admissions to hospital today ie 55 of whom 53 were admitted suffering from frost bite.  Making a total in two days of 70 admissions from frost bite".

On 1st December 1914 the battalion were treat to a rare occasion of celebration when they lined the streets of La Gorgue "for the arrival of H.M The King who motored through the town on his visit to see the Expeditionary Forces; he was accompanied by H.R.H The Prince of Wales, F.M Sir John French, the president of the French Republique and General Joffre" 

Throughout the month of December 1914 and on into the early months of 1915 the weather continued to be bad, it was either frost or wet, snowstorms were mentioned in January; all meant the conditions the men had to survive in were terrible. The war diary gives figures showing almost daily men wounded, missing or killed. 

The month of May 1915 dawned and the battalion were based at Rue Du Bois within ear shot of the heavy shelling in Ypres.  On 3rd May they relieved the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment  in No 2 trench and the day was reported as "quiet".  They remained in the trench one day and were relived by the 2nd Scottish Rifles on 4th May 1915, another quiet day.  On 5th May the battalion took part in training ready for the coming attack which was planned for 9th May. 

9th May 1915....

The figures read as follows; "Killed 3 officers, 52 other ranks, Wounded 12 officers, 245 other ranks, Missing 1 officer, 46 other ranks".  Poignantly no account of the days events are recorded in the war diary for the 9th May 1915, the account can be found later in the diary written as a reflective summary -

The battalion left their billets late on the night of the 8th May and moved to the assembly trenches at near by Rue Petillon.  Their bombardment commenced at 05.00am on 9th May 1915 but owing to the heavy machine gun fire the actual attack was slightly delayed until 6.10am when the war diary chillingly states "our leading platoons started to leap over the parapet of the trench".  Unfortunately it was found that the original attack had not been hard enough and the Germans had not been sufficiently bombarded to cause them difficulties.  The Germans were holding their own and fighting back and in fact had held all their parapet positions untouched.  They had 8 machine guns firing straight at the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters and the East Lancashire Regiment who were by their side.

The 1st Sherwood Foresters changed the direction of their attack but still came up against even heavier German attack.  The message was passed up the line from the G.O.C "Stop advance".  Further investigation of the messages application to the 24th Brigade, of which the 1st Sherwood Foresters were part of, proved that the order did not apply.  The order was to reorganise and then continue to attack supporting the East Lancashire Regiment. The battle carried on throughout the day, at some points the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters were laid open out of the trenches waiting for back up to progress further. 

The Germans continued bombarding the battalion with shells until around 7.30pm when they began aiming high explosives at the battalion's trenches, the results were catastrophic, killing and wounding many men.  More significantly the war diary records that "the men were becoming demoralised and started crowding down the trenches to our right".  The situation could have continued this way but for the bravery of the Lieutenant Miller who saw the men and decided to lead by example; "with the up most coolness and gallantry ran along the ...... line and by his personal example saved the situation".  The men of the 1st Battalion returned to their positions and "returned the hot rifle fire of the Germans". 

At just after 10pm the battalion were relieved by the Worcestershire Regiment.  Sadly the day was still not over as on trying to return to the billets and safety the battalion kept finding themselves under enemy fire.  They eventually reached Rouge De Bout at 1am on Monday 10th May.

11th May 1915 was a day of rest for the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  They received a visit from General Oxley who "congratulated Capt Wayte on the behaviour of the regiment and said how well they had performed and that they had been given an impossible task".

Ernest was wounded in action on 9th May 1915, he received a gun shot wound to his thigh.  He was admitted to the field hospital the next day but his condition must have required further treatment and so on 11th May he was transferred back to England upon the HMHS Anglia arriving in England on 12th May 1915.

The ship HMHS Anglia was a steam ship which had been requisitioned during WW1 and used as a hospital ship.  On 17th November 1915 she hit a German mine and was sunk in a quick 15 minutes.  There were 390 crew and patients on the ship but nearby ships the HMS Hazard and the Lusitania helped evacuate as many as possible; sadly 134 people lost their lives as the ship went down.

Private Ernest Booth died of injuries caused by his wounds on 15th May 1915.  He was being cared for at the 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill, London.

Grave of Private E Booth
Photo taken by author (c) copyright

Ernest returned to New Whittington and he is buried in the graveyard of St Bartholomew's Church in the centre of the village.

Ernest was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star for his service during WW1.  But we must remember that WW1 was only a small proportion of the overall service Ernest gave to his King and Country; in total he served 6 years and 340 days.

Although Ernest was born in Staveley he is not remembered on the Staveley War Memorial.

Life went on....

Family recorded as Ernest Booth's next of kin 1919
via www.ancestry.co.uk



Joseph & Bridget Booth

Joseph Booth may have died in 1934 aged 81 years old, this would however need confirming further.

Derbyshire Times 22nd April 1896

Looking in the local newspaper the Derbyshire Times a Bridget Booth appears several times.  Generally for being drunk and causing a nuisance, it looks like Bridget was one feisty lady.  The article above describes her disagreement with a neighbour Rachel Limb in 1896.

There is a death for a Bridget Booth registered in 1923, however it gives the year of birth as slightly older than documented.  As the name is fairly rare in the Chesterfield area it may well be the death of Ernest's mother.

William Arthur Booth

William or Arthur as he was known eventually married Hannah Binns in 1928.

May Booth

May was married to Joseph Bennison, sadly the Bennison family suffered losses during WW1; Joseph lost his brothers George and James Bennison.  The two brothers are also named on the St Barnabas Memorial and their stories will be told on this blog at a later date.

For May and Joseph life continued, their little family grew; Ernest born 1913, Miriam born 1915, James born 1917 and May born 1921.  What became of the little girl named Ethel May Booth is unknown at this time.

Joseph Bennison may have died in 1948 and May in 1960 however these dates have not been checked with death certificates.

James Booth & Emily Booth

The younger two siblings have not been easy to follow as the names are fairly common, without purchasing marriage and death certificates I am afraid I cannot confirm what became of them, however if anyone can add to their stories please do let me know.

If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Ernest Booth or his parents or siblings please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

Reference and further reading -

Census

Parish Registers

Medal Rolls

Service Records www.ancestry.co.uk

Soldiers who died in the Great War

Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times

CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx

1st Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment -

War Diaries http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14017283

WW1 http://www.1914-1918.net/notts.htm

General information http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Sherwood_Foresters_World_War_I.pdf

http://www.britisharmedforces.org/i_regiments/sherwood_index.htm

Regimental museum http://www.wfrmuseum.org.uk/sf_museum.htm

HMS Anglia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMHS_Anglia#Sinking

S.S Cardiganshire http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cacunithistories/HMS_Cardiganshire.html



EDWARD HARRY BURTON

EDWARD HARRY BURTON

Private 17984

1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment

Killed in action - 8th May 1915



Edward Harry Burton was born in late 1883/early 1884 in New Whittington, the son of Edward and Susannah Burton.  



St Bartholmew's Church, New Whittington, Chesterfield

Edward was baptised at St Bartholomew's   Church, New Whittington on 14th February 1884.  He was the fifth child to be born to Edward and Susannah; he had two elder brothers named David and Herbert, and two elder sisters named Lavina Annie and Sarah Jane.

The birth of baby Edward was tinged with sadness for the Burton family as around the time of his birth his elder sister Sarah Jane passed away on 20th January 1884 she was buried days later on 26th January 1884.  Sarah Jane was aged just 18 months old.  It would have been a terrible time for the family who only two weeks later stood in that same church for the baptism of baby Edward Harry.

The heart ache continued when sadly the next three children born also died as babies:

*Ernest - baptised 19th April 1885 died 29th December 1885, buried 2nd January 1886

*Imlah - baptised 18th June 1886 buried 7th December 1886

*Florry - baptised 9th February 1888 buried 15th August 1888

Sarah Jane Burton death - Derbyshire Times
26th January 1884 page 5

Ernest Burton death - Derbyshire Times
23rd January 1886 page 5





The deaths of first two children; Sarah Jane and Ernest were announced in the local newspaper, The Derbyshire Times.  Maybe the task was simply too heart breaking for Edward and Susannah as the deaths of Imlah and Florry do not appear to have been announced.

The 1891 census shows the Burton family living at Stone Row in New Whittington.  Edward senior was head of the household, aged 39 years old he worked as a coal miner.  Susannah was 36 years old and is recorded as being born in the nearby village of Mosborough.  The two eldest boys David aged 17 years old and Herbert aged 14 years old had also gained employment at the coal mines, working as labourers.  Edward and his sister Lavina were still attending school.  There was a new member of the family a little six month old baby girl named Sarah. 

Sarah was baptised in 1890, however it appears that she was known fondly by her family as "Sally" as on the 1901 census she is recorded as Sally.  To confuse us further, a younger sibling named Sarah Elizabeth  was born in 1892, she was aged 9 years old on the 1901 census.  The family still live on Stone Row which was just off of the main High Street.  Edward senior was still employed as a coal miner.  Edward has followed the elders of his family to work down the coal mines, working as a pony driver.  Lavina is aged 19 years old, no occupation is noted.

The older boys David and Herbert were not living at the family home in 1901 -

David married Rose Hannah Allison on 25th October 1897 at St Bartholomew's Church in the village.  In 1901 David and Rose were living a few minutes walk away from the Burton family at 63 Wellington Street.  They have a new addition to the family a little boy named Albert aged just 11 months old.

Herbert has also settled down and married Jessie Bailey on 14th February 1888.  In 1901 they were living at 99 Station Road, Old Whittington.  The couple had also stated a family; a daughter named Alethea aged 2 years old and a young son aged 11 months named Herbert Edwin.

Love is in the air.....

Wedding bells also rang for Edward when on 5th November 1904 he married his sweetheart Eliza Longson.  Eliza was a local girl born in Newbold, the daughter of James and Margaret Longson.  The couple married at Eliza's local parish church; St John's the Evangelist at Newbold.

Edward and Eliza must have been expecting their first child when they wed as a daughter was born to them in early January 1905.  Whether this child was born prematurely is not know, but sadly for the newly married couple baby Florence died aged just 13 days old.  The babe in arms was buried at St John's Church on 31st January.  Thankfully a second daughter named Annie was born the following year, she was baptised at St Bartholomew's Church, Old Whittinton on 19th April 1906. 

During the next few years Edward and his brother David left the Burton family and the village of New Whittington for pastures new, to work in the coal mines a Laughton en le Morthen near Rotherham.

Edward and Eliza registered their second child; a son named Harry at Rotherham.  He was born on 30th January 1909 and baptised at Laughton en le Morthen on 3rd March 1909.

1911 the eve of war....

Signature of Edward "Harry" Burton 1911 census
www.ancestry.co.uk



The last census before the outbreak of World War 1 shows Edward and Eliza living at Laughton Common, Dinnington.  Edward was now aged 27 years old and worked as a coal miner below ground.  Annie is aged 5 years old and Harry aged 2 years old.  

David Burton and his family are also living at Laughton Common, he is recorded as having four children with only two still living.  His son Albert Edward is now aged 10 years old and Florence Lilian is 8 years old.  A child David John was baptised on 23rd November 1905 at New Whittington and was buried on 2nd August 1906. 

Herbert Burton had also left the village of New Whittington and was now living at 86 Duke Street, Cresswell near Mansfield.  All of Herbert's children were still living; Alethea aged 12 years old, Herbert Edwin aged 10 years old, Cyril aged 8 years old, Joseph William aged 6 years old and Edward aged 4 years old.

Back in New Whittington; 189 High Street is the home to the Burton family.  Edward senior was 59 years old and still worked as a coal miner hewer.  His daughters still lived at home; Lavina aged 29 years old worked as a dressmaker, Sarah (Sally) aged 20 years, Elizabeth (Sarah Elizabeth) aged 19 years old. 

1911 Census Edward & Susannah
Burton, showing children born



This census tells that Edward senior and Susannah Burton had 10 children; 6 still living and 4 deceased.  I note that the number has been changed from the original 9 children; 5 still living and 4 deceased.  I have accounted for 10 children; 6 living in 1911 and 4 deceased.

 





1911 census showing baby William Burton
www.ancestry.co.uk

There was another entry on the census page, an entry which did not include the relationship to the householder; a young baby boy named William Burton he had been recorded as "1 week" old which had been crossed through and "under one month" added. 

William Henry Burton was baptised on 29th October 1911 at St Barnabas Church, New Whittington.  He was recorded as the son on William Henry Burton and Lavina Burton.  It looks likely that baby William was the illegitimate son of 29 year old Lavina Burton.

Life in Laughton Common....

Edward Henry and Eliza had two more sons; Walter was baptised on 20th September 1911 and James William born on 28th May 1913.  Sadly Walter was to die a year later and was buried on 16th September 1912.  The family are recorded as living at 61 Granville Street, Laughton at this time.

Edwards War....

Edwards service record states that he joined the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment at Pontefract, North Yorkshire on 15th December 1914.  He was mobilised that very day and would most likely have remained at Pontefract with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment to begin his basic training.  The 3rd Reserves moved to Sunderland in January 1915 and so Edward may well have moved with them.

Christmas 1914 would have been a sad time for young mother Eliza left at home with her three children; Annie, Harry and William James.  Their brave father had gone off to fight for King and Country in the war that should have been over by now, according to common prophecy at the time.

Edward Harry Burton was now known as Private 17984, aged 32 years old his war was about to begin.  The 1st Battalion would have some seasoned soldiers amongst their ranks, having returned to England in December 1914 from service in Jubbulpore, India.  The 1st Battalion did not enjoy much rest time however as they soon set off to join the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F), landing in Le Harve on 17th January 1915.

Edward remained in England being taught the military skills required to become a fighting soldier.  He received just short of 6 months training and arrived to join the 1st Battalion in the theatre of war on 1st May 1915.  The 1st Battalion were stationed at Ypres, Belgium at this time and had received orders that day to relieve the "2nd Kings Own in the trenches".

The war diary tells how the battalion marched through heavy shell fire to the "new line at Verlorenhoek, which we took up at about 10pm". 

They remained in the trenches until 3rd May when they were ordered to split their companies and two of the 1st Battalion Coys were to move to St Julien to support the Rifle Brigade "who were hard pressed".  The push by the German Armies was hard at this time and during that night the original front line was pushed back, making the line which the 1st Battalion occupied the new front line. 

So close were the enemy that at 9am on 4th May the "enemy patrols were seen in front of our line".  Isolated patrols of Germans were seen advancing down the right side of the B.E.F.  Later that day at 2 o'clock in the afternoon it was thought that the Germans were placing machine guns inside some local houses, which would then be used to attack the B.E.F front line.  Two hours later at 3.55pm the war diary gives this chilling statement "left trench reports thousand Germans with transport moving through Zonnebeke in a S.E direction.....Transport about 8 carts in rear.... troops are also reported moving down Zonnebeke - Ypres Rd close to Frezenberg".  

The B.E.F received "an exceptionally heavy bombardment...from 4pm till 6pm, when things quietened down considerably".

The situation worsened for the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment when they had their communication wires cut by a shell on 5th May.  The Germans were sending heavy artillery fire their way and in some parts had blown in the B.E.F trenches.  The sad lines written within the war diary again tell of the desperation the 1st Battalion must have felt, Edward the rookie soldier may have been right in the middle of all of this...

"9.15 am, 5th May..

Report to Bde.  "We are suffering heavy losses + trenches are being destroyed by heavy shell fire.  We are in urgent need of support if possible..... our artillery fire accurate, but H E shell needed against buildings..... Party of East Yorks arrived here report about 1/2 mile of their trench blown away and enemy advancing on their left.... Captain Collins has reported that he has had to retire from Right centre trench"

The 6th May was a little better and the enemy were reported as being "quieter today".  The 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment had sent open bursts of rapid fire on the enemies working trenches.  The next day was a similar day, the enemy were active but ineffective.  The 1st Battalion would be worn out by the time the 1st Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry relieved them during the night.  Away from the front line at last the Battalion marched back from Zonnebeke to the huts at Ypres.

The 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment arrived at the huts in Ypres for some well deserved rest by 1.30am on 8th May.  They were greeted by some unexpected good news.... "a draft of 487 N.C O's (non commissioned officers) and men".  Was Private Edward Henry Burton one of these men? we will never know for sure, he had either arrived in the days earlier to witness the horrors of the last week or he was a fresh new face. A  rookie soldier who would now be face to face with some war worn, broken men who had spent a week from hell in the trenches.

The new draft was paraded in front of the Commissioned Officer for inspection at 11.30am and were ordered to "stand to" at 11.35am.  The reprieve for the 1st Battalion was short lived and by 12.15 they had received orders to retake the trench at Zonnebeke.  The men marched back along the railway lines to the trenches, this time with new men to join them.  They arrived in the support trenches by 5pm to find the area under heavy shell fire.  Captain Collins was wounded and casualties at this time were estimated in between 30 and 40 men.

At 7pm the orders were received to advance at 8pm.  The war dairy records the attack:

"the attack was pushed almost up to the German trenches, but owing to the very heavy casualties in officers & men, it did not achieve its object.  All the officers were put out of action with the exception of Lt Briscoe who was able to get together the remnants of the Battalion next day.  Capt East was killed, Lt Col Isherwood, Lt Lousada, Lt Gauntlett, Lt Wylie, 2nd Lt Taylor, 2nd Lt Dodwell, 2nd Lt Morgan were wounded"

The weary men who had survived that terrible day returned in small groups back to the support trenches; Sgt South with 30 men and Sgt Taylor with 45 men.  For the men who reached the support trenches the rest was short; only 1 1/2hours later at 00.30am on 9th May orders were given by the Brigadier General to return and continue the attack.  The Battalion was said to have by now only be numbered at 83 men.  Sgt South led the men, they met up with the Middlesex Regiment and joined their numbers.  Reinforcements were sent including Lt Briscoe with 17 men.  The Battalion remained in the support trenches under heavy fire on 10th May.  Lt Briscoe was killed during this time.  On 11th May the Battalion were once again ordered to fall back to the huts at Ypres.

Private 17984 was killed in action on 8th May 1915.  He has no known grave.  Whether he joined the 1st Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment on 1st May or 7th May 1915 he saw a short but traumatic service.  We can not even begin to imagine how Edward felt when he left his lovely family to join what would become known as the 2nd Battle of Ypres.  Straight into the front line with all its horrors, Edward must have shown great courage and true heroism in the part he played to fight for his children's and in fact our freedom.



Edward Harry Burton, Private 17984 is remembered at the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium.  He has no known grave but his name is engraved along with his comrades of the 1st Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on Panels 36 and 55.

Medal card Edward Henry Burton www.ancestry.co.uk

Edward Harry was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star for his service.



Register of soldiers effects, Edward Henry Burton
www.ancestry.co.uk



Edwards widow Eliza was awarded £2 1s 4d on 6th July 1916, one year later for the upkeep of the children and herself.  on 25th September 1919 she was awarded a further £3.

Life went on....

Eliza & the children

For Edwards widow Eliza Burton and her three children life would be extremely difficult.  In 1916 she was living at 4 Hayhurst Crescent, Maltby but by the time Edward's medals were issued to Eliza in 1919 she had moved home as was now living at Chapel Street, Blackpool. 

What became of Eliza after this date I have not been able to ascertain for sure.  There is a death in 1955 at Sheffield, South Yorkshire which may well be hers but I would need to follow this further to confirm that it is her.

The children -

I have not found any further details of the life of Edward's eldest daughter Annie Burton (born 1st April 1906 at Chesterfield) or his son Harry Burton (born 30th January 1909 at Dinnington, Rotherham).
The youngest son James William Burton (born 28th May 1913 in Rotherham) may have remained in Blackpool as there is a death registered in 1969.  There is  also a marriage registered in Blackpool for James William marrying Jenny White in 1936, as before I have not found any further evidence to prove or disprove this is the correct man and so cannot be certain of the connection - but please contact me or post a comment if you are connected to this family so that I can update the story.

The siblings -

David Burton was living at Laughton Common on the 1911 census.  He may have another son named Arthur whose birth was registered at Chesterfield in 1913.  His wife Rose Hannah died in 1916 aged 41 years old. 

Herbert Burton and his wife Jessie both have their deaths registered in the Rother Valley registration district which indicates that Herbert also moved to the Rotherham area.  His wife predeceased him and died in 1943.  Herbert died in 1955 aged 78 years old.

Lavina Annie Burton never married as far as I can see.  There is a death for 59 year old Lavina A Burton in Doncaster in 1941.  What became of her son William Henry Burton is not known.  The documentation on Edwards service records stated that in 1919 the whereabouts of Lavina were not known.

Sarah "Sally" Burton was recorded on the service records in 1919 as living in Warmsworth, Doncaster. 

Sarah Elizabeth Burton was documented on the service record in 1919 as named "Cissy" she was living in Killamarsh at that time.

Maltby Cenotaph....

Edward is also remembered on the Malbty Cenotaph.  It looks likely that Edward may have worked at Maltby Main colliery.





Photos kindly taken and permission given to use on this blog by Tony Beighton of the Rotherham Family History Society.










If you may be connected to this family or have any further information on Edward Henry Burton, his widow Eliza or children please do either leave comments via the pen icon below or drop me an email.

With thanks -

Tony Beighton and the Rotherham Family History Society  http://www.rotherhamfhs.co.uk/

Amanda Jenkins  @ The Maltby Academy

Jeannette & Jon via WW1 forum

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Kind thanks to the Derbyshire Times for permission

to use the articles in this blog post.

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Reference and further reading -

Census
Parish registers including Genuki Burial Transcripts for Laughton en le Morthen http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Transcriptions/WRY/LaughtonBurials1910-1919.html
Medal Rolls
Service Records www.findmypast.co.uk
Soldiers who died in the Great War
Newspaper Articles - Derbyshire Times
CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx

1st Battalion Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment war diaries  ref WO 95/2275/2

 York & Lancaster Regiment http://www.1914-1918.net/yorkslancs.htm

Battle of Ypres http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/battles-ypres-salient.htm

Church - St John the Evangalist http://www.newboldparishchurch.org.uk/about-us/history/