WALTER FURNESS

WALTER FURNESS

Private 24704

9th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment

Missing presumed dead - 26th September 1916

Walter Furness was the youngest child of Alfred and Sarah Furness.  He was born in New Whittington around 1892.  

Alfred Furness married Sarah Ann Slater on 24th June 1874 at Sheffield in an area known as Wicker.  Alfred and Sarah both originated from the village of Eyam, the famous plague village.  Alfred had moved to find work in the smokey city of Sheffield, famous for its steel industry.

By 1881 the Furness family have moved to the Derbyshire side of Sheffield and lived at Fallswood Terrace, Coal Aston.  Alfred was still employed as a labourer in the steel works.  The couple already have a growing family; Mary 9, Annie 5, Emily 3 and Thomas aged 11 months.  

Mary was born before the couple were married, her birth was registered under her mothers name as Mary Ann Slater.  She was baptised in February 1872 at Eyam, with only the mother noted.

Over the next ten years the family grew, on the 1891 census the Furness family have moved to New Whittington. They live on Bamford Street and the two new arrivals; Alfred aged 3 and baby Elizabeth.

Two family members are missing from the household; Mary Ann and Annie; 

Mary Ann was living with Alfred's parents, Richard and Ann Furness back at Eyam village.  Described as their grandaughter, she was 17 years of age and helped around the house.  Mary married Job Ollernshaw Robinson at Eyam in 1900.

Annie was aged 15 years old and worked in service at Dunston Villa, Sheepbridge.  Her employer was William Haslam was a forge manager. On 4th July 1898 she married John Cathorall at New Whittington. Annie died in the early months of 1899, aged just 22 years old she was buried on 8th February 1899 at Cresswell/Elmton.

Walter was the last child born to Alfred and Sarah, born in 1892 he was aged 8 years old on the 1901 census.  He would be attending the local school and enjoying his time playing in the surrounding fields.  his father and elder brother Thomas both worked at the local iron foundry as pipe moulders.  

Newly weds Mary and Job were living at Town Head, Eyam.  Job worked as a carter.  

1911 the eve of war....

Walter and his family were still residing at 21 Bamford Street. He was 19 years old and worked as a surface man at the colliery.  

Mary Ann and Job had two young children now, John aged 7 and William aged 5 years old.  Some good fortune must have come their way as Job was now farming his own farm at Shepherds Flat, Eyam.  The couple had lost two children, so times had not all been rosy.  

Emily married James Fish on 15th April 1901 at New Whittington. A year later they had their first child, a son named Leonard.  Two more children were born but sadly died; Clifford born and died in 1906, he was buried at New Whittington on 25th June 1906. A little girl named Emily was baptised 25th July 1908, no birth or death was registered. 

In 1911 Emily and James were living at 11 London Street, New Whittington.  New baby girl May was just 10 months old and would be keeping Emily busy.  James worked as a coal miner hewer.

Thomas married Ethel May Hutchinson on 24th June 1901, a son named after his Uncle was born a year later; Walter Furness.  More children followed; Ethel May 1904, Edith 1907 and Thomas 1909.  In 1911 the growing family were living at 84 Handley Road in New Whittington.

Walter's life just prior to WW1....

Walter was a sporty chap, he was well known for his achievements as a footballer and cricketer.  He was employed by Glapwell Colliery and was a member of their cricket team.

Walter's war....

Walter served with the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, a local battalion which many of his friends and work colleagues would also have been part of.  Another man named on the St Barnabas Memorial was also missing in action on the same day as Walter; George Mears whose story can be read here.

Walter's service records have not survived but we know that he was a Private, soldier number 24704.  He was awarded the 15 Star, which means that he served overseas between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915.  

The 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were part of 33rd Brigade, 11th Division.  They were formed at the outset of WW1 in August 1914 and landed in Sulva Bay, Gallipoli on 7th August 1915.  The battalion saw some terrible fighting in Gallipoli and two other New Whittington men were killed in those early days of August 1915; Norman Croaysdill and John James Kirk.

The war diaries for the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during August 1915 are missing however searching the internet I have managed to locate a post which gives details from the 33rd Brigade War Diaries which includes an account of the 9th August 1915 for the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  The article can be found here.

The diary states that the 9th Battalion left at 4am on 9th August to take up their position in line at Damak Jelik Bair by 6am.  They were soon caught up in sniper fire but were not able to return that fire.  By 15.30 that day many of the battalion had been forced back; A and B Coys were both under Captain Squires; "He was at once killed and his left platoon decimated as the Turks had pushed a larger force about 2 Coys into the gap and began to open a heavy enfilade fire on both A and B Coys"  ref from the above link to the post on the WW1 invision forum.

To join the British Expeditionary Force in France....

The 9th Sherwood's were evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and moved on to Egypt.  On 1st July 1916 20 Officers and 526 Other Ranks of "A" and "B" Coys embarked on the H.T Oriana and set sail at 8am. The ship sailed to Malta where it rested for 2 hours before setting sail once more, they passed the island of Sardinia at 10am on 2nd July and arrived in the French port of Marseilles at 7pm on 3rd July.  By 8.30am on the morning of the 4th July Walter and his comrades were entrained, and on their way to Rouen.  The "C" and "D" Coys were met over the coming days, being full strength by 10th July.  For the rest of July the battalion was split, each Coy was given different objectives, some received further training, others were sent on working parties.

August 1916 a month into the Somme attack, many thousands of soldiers wounded, missing and killed in action.  The 9th Sherwood's had relieved the 9th Rifle Brigade in the trenches near to Arras on 28th July. The month was relatively quiet, regular enemy aircraft flying overhead, occasional gas attack alerts, enemy fire and time spent as working parties, fixing wire and making good the trenches.  The men were relieved on 18th August and returned to Headquarters at Berneville.

The battalion then spent 10 days at Gouy-En-Artios where they received many days worth of training, which the war diary records as having included numerous lectures.  On to Astree Wamin and more training and then on 3rd September the battalion arrived at Acheux where they received lectures on Battalion Attack.  It would appear that the allies were taking no chances and wanted their men to be fully educated and ready to produce an effective attack on the enemy.  A small rest bite from combat, but no time for relaxation.

School time over....

Walter's further education was at an end and so on 6th September the battalion relieved the 13th Cheshire Regiment in the trenches just south of Thiepval.  They remained in the trenches under some very heavy enemy fire.  On 12th September just before they were to be relieved the battalion war diary tells "Enemy send over large number of tear shells which exploded in our trenches.  It was suspected that poisonous gas shells were mixed up with these.  Gas helmets were worn and no casualties occurred".  At 6am the men fell into the reserve trenches when they were relieved by the 6th Lincolnshire Regiment. 

Over the coming days the men were moved in and out of trenches. There was great artillery fire by the British, which were a success and enemy prisoners were taken.  The Germans then retaliated bombarding the 9th Battalions occupied trench, "Constance Trench" "was heavily shelled by enemy with whizz-bangs".  

On 22nd September the men were relieved once more and returned to Mailley Mallet where they rested and undertook a parade, with new clothing issued.  On 24th September the men rehearsed the forthcoming attack on Thiepval.  Orders were given that the men should be ready to move at short notice, Walter and his friends would be aware that the coming attack was to be the culmination of the weeks of training and rehearsals.  

26th September 1916....

The men found themselves once more stationed in Constance Trench, ready for the coming attack on Thiepval.  They were reported as all being in position by 3.30am on the morning of 26th September.  They were then given "M & V rations* and tea was sent up during the morning" .

Once fed, the men were moved into positions ready for "the whistle signal at ZERO 12.35pm".  During the attack the battalion received many casualties, however it also took many prisoners and large scale items of equipment were also claimed from the enemy.  The battalion were part of the 33rd Brigade of the 11th Division which successfully captured Zollern and Hessian Trenches, despite heavy machine gun fire at times.  It is said to have suffered 600 casualties. 

The battle carried on into 27th September, on 28th the battalion spent time in consolidating Joseph Trench, they were shelled throughout their work.

The heroic fighting by all of the 11th Division was noted in a memo sent from General Sir H Gough, Commanding Reserve Army.  It reads;

"My best congratulations to you and your division on 

their gallant fighting today and throughout the

successful operations in which you have been engaged 

since the capture of the WONDER WORK.

You have all done splendid work"

Walter was presumed dead on the date of 26th September when he partook in the "splendid work" along with his comrades in arms of the 11th Division.  The action became known as The Battle of Thiepval Ridge.

Walter was reported missing in action, presumed dead on 26th September 1916.  He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.  Ref pier and face 10C 10D & 11A.

Private 24704 Walter Furness was awarded the Victory, British and 15 Star Medals for his service.  

Walter was remembered in the Derbyshire Times 4th November 1916 page 8, with a photograph on page 5. The obituary read....

"Another name to be added to the roll of 

honour is that of Pte. Walter Furniss (sic) 

a son of Mr and Mrs Alfred Furniss (sic)  of Bamford Street.

The first misgiving that all was not well was 

caused through receipt of several photos, which were sent

to their married daughter who resided in Eyam.  The 

soldier stated that he had found them on the battlefield

bearing her address.  Since then the parents have 

received a letter from the soldier above referred to, who

regrets to say that Walter was killed in the great advance.

He had come across the body and extracted some 

photos and letters before interment.  He assures them

that their son died a true soldiers death, and expresses

sympathy with them at their loss.

Pte. Furness was a well-built young fellow of 24.  He 

joined the Sherwoods in the early stages of War, and 

having been in France a long time had shared in much heavy 

fighting.  He was a well known footballer and cricketer.  

Formerly he worked on the surface at Markham No1 Colliery,

belonging to Staveley Coal and Iron Co. but later he received

an offer of employment at the Glapwell Colliery, where

he became a playing member of their Cricket Club.  

The date he was killed is not known"

Life went on....

Alfred and Sarah Ann, Walter's parents are recorded as living at Bamford Street on various documentation after Walter's death.  Sarah Ann died first in 1920 aged 68 years, Alfred a year later in 1921 aged 72.

Mary Ann and Job continued to live in Eyam. They had another child, a daughter named Emily May in 1913. Mary Ann lived until aged 85 years old when she died in 1957.  Job died in 1941.

Emily and James two more daughter's; Alice in 1912 and Adelaide in 1916.  In 1939 Emily, James and Adelaide were living at 11 London Street, New Whittington.  James worked as a miner, below ground. Emily died in 1955 aged 77 years old,  James ten years later in 1965.

Thomas and Ethel lived in West Handley.  They had another daughter in 1922 named Hazel.  Thomas worked as a coal miner.  He died in 1944 aged 64 years of age.  

Alfred married Elizabeth Heywood in 1914.  The couple had a son named Stanley in 1916.  In 1939 Alfred was recorded as being employed as club steward.  He lived at 156 High Street, New Whittington.  Alfred died in 1953 aged 65 years of age.

Elizabeth married John Ward in 1911.  The couple had four children; Eilleen in 1914, Walter in 1917 (no doubt named after his brave uncle Walter who had lost his life the year earlier),Thomas 1920 and Sheila 1927.  Elizabeth and John appear to have remained in New Whittington, living at 150 Devonshire Avenue in 1939.  Elizabeth died in 1958 aged 67 years old.

*M & V rations are Meat and Vegetable rations.  See the link to read more about the food and rations during WW1.

*****

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

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects
Service record - www.ancestry.co.uk

Newspaper articles - 
                               - Derbyshire Times 4th November 1916 p8 & 5

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

War diaries - Piece WO 

9th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/sherwood-foresters-nottinghamshire-derbyshire-regiment/

Meat and Vegetable Rations and WW1 food http://joyoffieldrations.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/maconochie-stew-british-army-ww1.html

Battle of Thiepval Ridge

http://www.cwgc.org/the-somme/battle-of-the-somme/morval-and-thiepval-ridge.aspx

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_thiepval_ridge.html

GEORGE HENRY MEARS

GEORGE HENRY MEARS

Private 9192

9th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment

Killed in action - 26th September 1916

George was the first born child of Elizabeth and Henry Mears.  Born in Staveley sometime around early 1885, he was one of five children, a relatively small family for the times.  He was named after his maternal grandfather George and his own father Henry.

George's parents Henry Mears and Elizabeth Ann Horner married on 3rd November 1884 at Staveley.  Henry was originally from Apethorpe in Northamptonshire, he was boarding with the Moorcroft family on Handley Road in 1881.  Henry was employed by the Midland Railway as a guard.  Elizabeth was born in Staveley, the daughter of George and Mary Horner.  Her family lived in the coal miner's residence, Hartington Cottages, George was a coal miner deputy.

The family soon grew; Arthur Alec was born in 1886, Sarah Ellen in 1890, Elsie in 1894 and Reginald in 1897.  Sadly baby Reginald died as an infant baby, he was buried at Whittington on 11th September 1897.

The 1901 census records George as living at 58 South Street, New Whittington.  He was aged 16 years old and employed along with his brother Arthur as a labourer at the furnaces.  His father was noted as married, but Elizabeth his wife is not living with the family on this night. The two daughters; Sarah and Elsie were also in the household. 

George's father Henry died in the summer of 1908.  

George joins the army....

Aged 19 years and 1 month George enlisted to serve for King & Country.  He signed up to serve 3 years with the Colours and would remain in the Army Reserves for 9 years after.  

He was serving with the local Notts & Derbys Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters); Private 9192.  His service began in February 1904 and would offer George more excitement than his job back in New Whittington where he worked as a pipe moulder.  

The service records describe George as 5ft 4 1/4" in height and weighing 125lbs.  He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  

1911 the eve of war....

George does not appear on the 1911 census, his service records are unclear as to whether he extended his army service to this date.

His siblings had all moved on with their own lives to; Arthur married Maria Starkey in 1910, they were living with her parents John and Mary at Melbourne Villas, Albert Avenue in 1911. Arthur worked as an iron pipe maker. On 22nd April 1913 the couple had a baby son, named William Robert.

Sarah married Albert Brent also in 1910.  Albert was from the neighbouring village of Barrow Hill.  A son was born in 1911 named William Edward.

Elsie was 17 years old and worked as a servant for a widowed Irish coal miner named Michael Kelly.  They lived at 8 Bamford Street, New Whittington.  In 1914 she married Joseph Whitehouse, a local boy he was living at 64 South Street in 1911.  Not long after, the couple had their first child; a daughter named Edna was born on 18th March 1915.

Wedding bells also rang for George when on 9th October 1911 he married Emma Short.  Emma was the daughter of Jepson Short.  She was born in New Whittington around 1888.  The witnesses to the weding were Arthur James Mitchell and his sister Edith Mitchell, only three years later tragically Arthur was to become the first man of the village to lose his life to the Great War, he is also named on St Barnabas Church War Memorial.  

Emma had spent some time in London; aged 16 years old, she was living at 74 Acre Lane, Lambeth and was undertaking training in domestic service. By 1911 she was back home in New Whittington, working at the Royal Hotel.  

Emma and George were soon to find themselves parents; on 3rd March 1912 a son was born, named after his father George Henry Mears. George jnr was baptised on 4th April 1912.  A second son named Thomas Arthur was born on 24th March 1915.

George's war....

Service record
www.ancestry.co.uk

As part of George's terms he had agreed to remain in the Army Reserve for 9 years after his earlier service had ended.  And so he would find himself receiving his call up as soon as the war had been declared.  He was called to mobilise at Derby on 5th August 1914.  

As a time served soldier, George was mobilised to Sheffield on the very day that war was declared, he was posted to the 2^nd Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment, keeping his rank and number, Private 9192.

On 8^th September 1914 George and his comrades set sail to join the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F) in France; the country in high spirits of a quick victory, he would be back by Christmas…. or so they believed.  He would leave his young son George aged 2 and his wife who would be around three months pregnant at the time.

The 2^nd Battalion were part of the 18th Brigade, 6th Division who landed at St Nazaire, France and were thrust straight into the battlefront being present at the Aisne Heights offensive on 20^th September 1914.  Not long after in October they relieved the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Ennetiere, the location of the Battle of Armentieres.  The battalion were forced back by the enemy, but soon found themselves surrounded, many men were forced to surrender; the war diary notes “Casualties 710 NCOs and men missing”.

At the end of July 1915 George received a mosquito bite to his right hand, he was transferred back to England on 5th August for medical care at Bagthorpe Hospital (now Nottingham City Hospital).  This hospital was reasonably local for George, being situated on Hucknall Road in Nottingham.  George soon recovered from his illness and was deemed fit to return to the battlefront.

It was at this time that George was relocated to the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  On 14th November 1915 he was sent to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; the Gallipoli Campaign.  The battalion had landed at Suvla Bay in August 1915, they were subject to heavy fighting and many soldiers succumbed to illness.  In December 1915 the battalion were forced to retreat to the island of Imbros before moving on to Egypt, where in February 1916 they took over part of the defence of Suez Canal.

The Somme, 1916....

Service record
www.ancestry.co.uk

According to his service records George and his comrades once again set off for France, they began the journey on 26th June and arrived on 4th July 1916.  They were being called upon after the tragic day, the 1st July, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.  The 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were much needed reinforcements for the British.

August 1916 a month into the Somme attack, many thousands of soldiers wounded, missing and killed in action.  The 9th Sherwood's had relieved the 9th Rifle Brigade in the trenches near to Arras on 28th July. The month was relatively quiet, regular enemy aircraft flying overhead, occasional gas attack alerts, enemy fire and time spent as working parties, fixing wire and making good the trenches.  The men were relieved on 18th August and returned to Headquarters at Berneville.

The battalion then spent 10 days at Gouy-En-Artios where they received several days worth of training, which the war diary records as having included numerous lectures.  On to Astree Wamin and more training and then on 3rd September the battalion arrived at Acheux where they received lectures on Battalion Attack.  It would appear that the allies were taking no chances and wanted their men to be fully educated and ready to produce an effective attack on the enemy.  A small rest bite from combat, but no time for relaxation.

School time over....

George's combat education was at an end, it was time to put the new skills into practise; on 6th September the battalion relieved the 13th Cheshire Regiment in the trenches just south of Thiepval.  They remained in the trenches under some very heavy enemy fire.  On 12th September just before they were to be relieved the battalion war diary tells "Enemy send over large number of tear shells which exploded in our trenches.  It was suspected that poisonous gas shells were mixed up with these.  Gas helmets were worn and no casualties occurred".  At 6am the men fell into the reserve trenches when they were relieved by the 6th Lincolnshire Regiment. 

Over the coming days the men were moved in and out of trenches. There was great artillery fire by the British, which were a success and enemy prisoners were taken.  The Germans then retaliated bombarding the 9th Battalions occupied trench, "Constance Trench.....was heavily shelled by enemy with whizz-bangs".  

On 22nd September the men were relieved once more and returned to Mailley Mallet where they rested and undertook a parade, with new clothing issued.  On 24th September the men rehearsed the forthcoming attack on Thiepval.  Orders were given that the men should be ready to move at short notice, George and his friends would be aware that the coming attack was to be the culmination of the weeks of training and rehearsals.  

26th September 1916....

The men found themselves once more stationed in Constance Trench, ready for the coming attack on Thiepval.  They were reported as all being in position by 3.30am on the morning of 26th September.  They were then given "M & V rations* and tea was sent up during the morning" .

Once fed, the men were moved into position ready for "the whistle signal at ZERO 12.35pm".  During the attack the battalion received many casualties, however it also took many prisoners and large scale items of equipment were also claimed from the enemy.  The battalion were part of the 33rd Brigade of the 11th Division which successfully captured Zollern and Hessian Trenches, despite heavy machine gun fire at times. It is said to have suffered 600 casualties. 

The battle carried on into 27th September, on 28th the battalion spent time in consolidating Joseph Trench, they were shelled throughout their work.

The heroic fighting by all of the 11th Division was noted in a memo sent from General Sir H Gough, Commanding Reserve Army.  It reads;

"My best congratulations to you and your division on 

their gallant fighting today and throughout the

successful operations in which you have been engaged 

since the capture of the WONDER WORK.

You have all done splendid work"

George was presumed dead on the date of 26th September when he partook in the "splendid work" along with his comrades in arms of the 11th Division.  The action became known as The Battle of Thiepval Ridge.

Private George Henry Mears, 9192 was laid to rest at the Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt; grave ref Vii H 7.  His grave is marked simply with the sign of the cross, no other inscriptions were added by George's family.

Medal card - Private 9192
*See notes below re different Battalion & death date

Private 9192 George Henry Mears was awarded the Victory, British and 14 Star Medals for his service.  

*His medal card appears to show George Mears, Private 9192 as being attached to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  Looking at his service records and other documentation, all information for WW1 confirms George served with the 2nd and 9th Battalion. The date of death is recorded as 20th September 1916 not 26th, again all other paperwork states 26th September 1916.

Walter Furness another New Whittington man also served with the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  He to was presumed missing in action on the same date, 26th September 1916.  His story can be read here.

Arthur James Mitchell the witness at George and Emma Mears wedding was also killed and remembered on the St Barnabas Memorial.  His story can be read here.

Life went on....

What became of George's mother Elizabeth Mears is unknown at this time.  

Emma and her two sons George jnr and Thomas Arthur Mears were awarded a pension of 22s 11p per week commencing on 23rd April 1917.  She lived at this time at 21 Station Lane, New Whittington.  

Emma remarried in early 1918, her husband was Samuel Toseland another New Whittington lad.  The couple went on to have four children; Elsie, James, Samuel and Doris.  More sadness was unfortunately to come into Emma's life when she lost her two sons as young children; James under 1 year and Samuel aged just 4 years old.  Samuel died in 1956, Emma in 1960.

George Henry jnr married Mary Levers in 1935.  On the 1939 Register the newly weds were living at 35 Brearley Street, New Whittington.  George worked as a labourer at the steel works.  George died on 30th November 1981, his address at the time was 27 Wellington Street, New Whittington.  Mary his wife died in 1989.

Thomas Arthur Mears married Alice Hawkins in 1938.  The couple lived at 13 Beetwell Street in Chesterfield town centre.  Thomas worked as a bus conductor.  They had a daughter named Jean.  Thomas died in 1990, Alice in 1993.

George's siblings....

Arthur and Maria had another child, a daughter named Lillian born on 9th June 1915.  The family were living at 2 Albert Avenue on the 1939 Register and Arthur had been promoted to foreman at the iron foundry.

Arthur died on 6th May 1961 at Walton Hospital.  He was aged 74 years old and had moved away from New Whittington, his address was 38 Windermere Road in Newbold.  Maria had died in 1955. Their daughter Lillian Mary died a spinster aged 78 years old in 1993.

Sarah and Albert Brent had more children; Violet in 1912, Henry in 1913, John in 1915 and George in 1920. Albert served during WW1, which would explain the break in children born during those years.  The couple lived at Cotterill Lane in Brimington.  

William Edward Brent, Sarah's son was a Sergeant Instructor in the Royal Artillery.  He had joined the services before WW2 but sadly died at home aged 32 years of age on 3rd April 1943.  His obituary was written in the Derbyshire Times newspaper on 9th April 1943 page 6.  It told how he was a "fine athlete and gymnast" "while in the Army he reached the semi-final of the Light Heavyweight Army Boxing Tournament". He had served in India for six years and was married to Mary Brent.  William was buried at Brimington Cemetery.

Elsie and Joseph Whitehouse had two more children; Winifred in 1917 and Joseph in 1920.  The couple stayed in the village of New Whittington, in 1939 they were living at 98 South Street with their eldest daughter Edna.  Joseph was working as a coal miner.  Elise was written as "Edith E" on the 1939 Register.  There are several possible deaths for (Edith) Elsie Whitehouse, which would need verification with the death certificate, Joseph died in 1969.  

*M & V rations are Meat and Vegetable rations.  See the link to read more about the food and rations during WW1.

*****

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

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

*****

Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers
Medal rolls
Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects
Service record - www.ancestry.co.uk

                               

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org

War diaries - Piece WO 1813 / 1-4

9th Battalion Sherwood Forester Regiment http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/sherwood-foresters-nottinghamshire-derbyshire-regiment/

Imbros Island http://www.army.mod.uk/firstworldwarresources/gallipoli-1915/general-headquarters-imbros-1915

FRANCIS MASKERY

FRANCIS MASKERY

Corporal 12590

9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment

Killed In Action - 9th August 1915

Whilst researching Francis I have been fortunate to have made contact with his Great Grand daughter who has very kindly written an account on Francis and his life and also added some photographs of the family which she is happy to be posted on this blog.....

"Francis Maskery

Francis Maskery was a very tall man with broad shoulders.  He stood 6ft 3in in his stocking feet and had to bend his head to get through the cottage door (his wife, Hilda who was about 5ft tall just stood above his elbow).  Francis had golden, ginger thick hair, a fair complexion and a moustache.

He was the son of William Maskery and Mary (Swift) and had many brothers and sisters.  His childhood was spent in an old farmhouse on the edge of Binkley Wood, near Chesterfield.  He worked as a labourer at the ironworks.

When he was 20 years old he got a young girl pregnant, this was Hilda Buck.  Hilda was only 14 years old but the couple were married.  Hilda Buck and Francis Maskery were married on 4th December 1905 at Chesterfield Register Office.  Hilda lied about her age saying that she was 17 years old.  The couple lived with Hilda's sister and her husband, the Leggets at the back of a shop in Glumangate, Chesterfield.  Their daughter, Voilet was born on 7th July 1906 at these premises.

When Violet was still a baby the couple got a house on London Street, New Whittington, Nr Chesterfield.  Francis became a coal face worker at the pit which was very hard work.  Emily, the couples next child was born on 24th December 1907 and the third child Ivy was born on 6th May 1909.  Hilda was only just 18 years old and had three daughters" 

by The Great Grand Daughter of Francis Maskery

Meet the Maskery family....

Francis was born on 7th December 1883 (1) at Binkley Hendley near West Handley, Derbyshire.  He was the son of William and Mary Maskery. 

William Maskery and Mary  Swift married on 25th December 1876 at Staveley Parish Church. Their first daughter Maud Isabella was born in 1878, followed by Walter in 1880.  In 1881 the Maskery family were living at Springwell in the parish of Staveley.  William head of the house worked as a shoeing smith for the colliery.  Next to be born was another son, named Robert Coulter he was born around 1882 and then came Francis in 1883.  A daughter named Clara Ann was born in 1885 followed by Minnie Elizabeth in 1887 and Mary Alice in 1889.  William jnr was next born on valentines day 1891.

Entry in Handley CofE school log book
www.findmypast.co.uk

Francis started school on 8th April 1889, he went to Handley Church of England School.

By the 1891 census the Maskery household at Binkley was very cramped; William aged 32 and Mary aged 33 had eight children to feed.  The ages ranged from 13 years to 2 months old.  The home they lived in had just four rooms; a two up, two down. 

Changes for the family by 1901....

Ten years on and William and Mary were still living at Binkley.  There were three new members of the family; Lily May aged 6, Ivy Gertrude aged 4 and John Cyril aged 2 years old.  Robert was now working, employed as a coal miner, Minnie, Mary and William were all at school. 

Maud Maskery had left home and married Henry Isaac Vickers in 1897, on the 1901 census the Vickers family were living at 33 Long Row in Unstone.  Maud had four young children; Harry, Wilfred, Hedley and Ethel.

Walter was boarding at West Handley, he was working as a coal miner below ground, still single he was 21 years of age.  Clara had also left the family home and was in service .  She was employed as a general domestic servant by Thomas Windle a general under manager at one of the local mines. 

Where was Francis?....

Service record Francis Maskery
www.findmypast

Francis Maskery doesn't appear on the 1901 census.  Further investigation finds that on 25th February 1901 Francis had enlisted with the Royal Marines.  He had signed his papers at Chesterfield, we will never know the reasons why, was it on a whim or his boyhood dream?

Interestingly he gives his date of birth as 20th December 1882, making him nearly one year older than his true age.  His real age was only just 17 years old, however that would have been old enough to join up without his parents consent, so the reason for this is unknown.

Francis progressed well through his training, he passed his examinations including his swimming test at the recruitment depot at Deal in Kent on 10th July 1901.  On 12th September 1901 Francis Private 10718, was transferred to Plymouth, his general character was described as "Good". 

Francis embarked on the Hibernia on 16th August 1902, over the follwing years Francis appears to change.  His character is now documented as "in diff" (indifferent).  However, at the same time his ability is stated as "V G" (very good).

Service record
www.findmypast.co.uk

Francis returned to the naval base at Plymouth in the summer of 1903 but by 1904 things appear to have gone downhill for him.  On 31st March 1904 Private 10718 F Maskery was discharged "having been convicted by civil power of theft".

More telling in his demise are the final comments "General character Bad".  What had Francis done to earn himself this title, I have unfortunately not found out at this time.

Francis must have decided to return home to his family in Chesterfield.  He met the young lady called Hilda Buck, she was the daughter of Thomas and Mary Anne Buck.  Thomas ran the Rising Sun public house in New Whittington.  Hilda was one of nine children, she was born on 29th July 1891.

Matrimony....

Francis and Hilda were married on 4th December 1905; Francis was a few days under 21 years old, Hilda was 14 years old.  They hid the age difference by getting married at the nearest town's register office in Chesterfield, not the local church.  Hilda was recorded as 17 years of age, a much more accepted age for marriage in 1905.  There were two witnesses at the ceremony; W Mitchell and M Maskery (2).

The newlyweds moved in with Hilda's sister Edith and her husband Jesse Leggett.  They lived in the town centre on Glumangate, which was where Hilda and Francis' first daughter Violet was born on 7th July 1906.

Not long after, the couple made their own home on London Street, New Whittington, close to Hilda's parents pub in the same village.  Two more little girls followed not long after; Emily on 24th December 1907 and Ivy on 6th May 1909. 

1911 the eve of war....

Francis and Hilda were living at 56 London Street, New Whittington.  Francis was aged 27 years old, Hilda was 22 years old on the census return.  The three girls were Violet aged 4 years, Emily 3 and Ivy 1.

The Maskery household was slightly smaller by 1911; William snr was still working as a colliery blacksmith.  He was 52 years old and the census tells that he and Mary had borne 14 children in total; 11 were still living and 3 had died.  There were only three children living with the couple in 1911; William jnr a 20 year old coal miner, Ivy Gertrude aged 14 and John Cyril aged 12 years old.  The family lived at 30 Doe Lea.

Maud and Henry Vickers had moved home to live at West Handley, Henry was now working as a horseman on a farm.  The family had also grown in numbers and Maud has eight children; Harry, Wilfred, Hedley, Ethel, Arthur, Joseph, Ivan and baby Grace.

Walter had married Fanny Hodgkinson on 8th April 1901 at Newbold.  On the 1911 census the family were living at West Handley with three children; Nesbith May, Mary Alice, Walter and Bertha.  Walter was working as a coal miner.

Robert married Alice Maud Allen in 1903.  They now had three children; Clive, Robert jnr and baby Gladys.  Like his siblings the family lived at West Handley and he worked as a coal miner hewer.

Clara married widower George Parkinson Galley in 1908.  He had a 7 year old daughter named Ethel Elizabeth by his first wife Elizabeth (Elizabeth died in 1906).  Clara and George soon had a daughter of their own, little Marjorie Isabel was born in 1909.  By 1911 the family were living at 2 Britannia Buildings, George worked as a joiner.

Minnie married Harold William Goodhand on 9th July 1907 at Swanwick, Derby.  In 1911 Minnie and Harold were living at 76 Church Street, Old Whittington.  They had no children however a daughter Evelyn was born later that year.  Harold worked as a groom and gardener.

Mary Alice married Arthur Beard in 1908.  Arthur worked as a blacksmiths striker at the colliery.  By 1911 the couple had two children; Norman and Dorothy May.  They lived at 126 Doe Lea, near Chesterfield.

William jnr married on 18th May 1912.  His bride was Evelyn Harston and they married at Ault Hucknall, Mansfield. 

Lilly May was aged 18 years old on the 1911 census and was working for Robert Else at domestic duties.  Robert had his own business as a mineral water manufacturer.  They lived at Lea Wood, Matlock.  On 31st May 1911 Lily married insurance agent James William Kirk.  James was a local lad, he lived at 96 Church Street, Old Whittington.

Francis' war....

Francis served with the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  His service records have not survived but a newspaper article states that Francis enlisted "soon after war broke out".  The rank that Francis took of Corporal shows that despite of him being a little wild in his youth, Francis had shown the Army that he was responsible enough to lead men.  His previous records in the Royal Marines stated that his ability was "Very Good" and so it appears that Francis now aged 33 years old was living up to that statement.  Francis was known as Corporal F Maskery 12590.

The 9th Battalion was a service battalion, it formed in Derby in August 1914 and set sail from Liverpool in July 1915, arriving in Suvla Bay on 7th August 1915. 



Derbyshire Times 13th November 1915 p8

The newspaper article stated that Francis left England at the end of June 1915.  Whether he sailed out with the 9th Battalion is unknown as his last letter home was dated 5th August.  Tragically only days later on 9th August 1915 he was reported missing in action.  The battalion were forced to evacuate from Gallipoli in December 1915.

The war diaries for the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters during the time period relevant to Francis' service are missing however searching the internet I have managed to locate a post which gives details from the 33rd Brigade War Diaries which includes an account of the 9th August 1915 for the 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.  The article can be found here.

The diary states that the 9th Battalion left at 4am on 9th August to take up their position in line at Damak Jelik Bair by 6am.  They were soon caught up in sniper fire but were not able to return that fire.  By 15.30 that day many of the battalion had been forced back; A and B Coys were both under Captain Squires; "He was at once killed and his left platoon decimated as the Turks had pushed a larger force about 2 Coys into the gap and began to open a heavy enfilade fire on both A and B Coys"  ref from the above link to the post on the WW1 invision forum.


Hilda wrote to the War Office and they informed her that Francis was reported as wounded in action on 9th August 1915.  As late as November 1915 Hilda was still frantically trying to locate her husband and ascertain his well being.  Sadly the death certificate for Corporal Francis Maskery regimental number 12590 gives his date of death as 9th August 1915; aged 29 years old; "assumed to have died" (3). 

Francis is remembered on the Helles Memorial in Turkey, panel 150 to panel 152.  He has no known grave.   

Corporal Francis Maskery was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 15 Star for his service.

Life went on....

Hilda and the girls probably read the last letter Francis penned over and over.  The words stating that "he thought it would be a long time before they met again" would be sadly reflected upon.

Emily, Ivy & Violet Maskery
Credit & thanks to C. Beadle

Photo credit & thanks
to C Beadle

Life however had to go on, Hilda had three little girls to look after, Violet 9, Ivy 8 and Emily 7 years old.  Life must have been a struggle for such a young widow; Hilda had just reached her 24th birthday when Francis died. 

Hilda did become pregnant again and on 21st November 1918 another daughter named Grace was born.  The birth was registered as Grace Maskery, mothers maiden name Buck.

A more settled time eventually arrived for Hilda and she married Isaac Goodwin in 1925, ten years after the death of Francis.  Hilda and Isaac had a son named Eric but sadly he died at only three months old.

Hilda and Isaac lived in Hollingwood and she died there on 26th December 1964 aged 73 years old. 



Derbyshire Times 19th March 1937
page 26





William and Mary Maskery, Francis' parents lost two sons in close succession of each other; John in 1914 and Francis in 1915. 

They remained living at Doe Lea.  The couple celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in 1937 and the event was mentioned in the local newspaper. 

It told how  the couple had lost Francis and Cyril (John) and of William's career as a blacksmith.

Mary died in 1944 and William died on 20th December 1945. 

Maud and Henry Vickers had four more children; William, Millicent, Cyril and in 1918 the final son named John Francis Vickers (possibly taking his middle name from his Uncle Francis Maskery).  Maud died in 1958.

Walter died in 1960 aged 80 years old.

Robert Coulter died in 1958 aged 76 years old.

Clara and George Galley may have had two more daughters; Edna in 1914 and Dorothy in 1919.  George died in 1943 and Clara died in 1977 aged 92 years old.

Minnie and Harold Goodhand travelled and appear on the incoming passenger lists from Quebec, Canada.  They arrived in the UK on 7th July 1950, their given address was 113 Langer Lane, Chesterfield.  Harold died in 1964, Minnie died in 1972 aged 85 years old.

Mary and her husband Arthur Beard may have had four more children.  Mary died only one year after her father, in 1946 she was aged 57 years old. 

William jnr and Evelyn had at least two sons; Kenneth born 27th August 1912 and Archibald in 1915.  William enlisted with the Grenadier Guards during WW1.  His service record has survived, the address given is 30 Doe Lea.  He enlisted at White City on 12th February 1915 but he was discharged "on medical grounds" on 19th August 1915.  No further details are given in the service records.  He was discharged just 10 days after his elder brother Francis had been killed in Gallipoli. 

William died in 1975 aged 84 years old.  Evelyn died a year later in 1976 aged 85 years old.

Lily and James Kirk may have a daughter named Phyliss born in 1912.  I can find one death for a Lily May Kirk registered at Ilkeston in 1976.  If this is correct then Lily would have been 80 years old, but these details may be incorrect without registration certificates. 

Ivy married Joseph Shorthouse in 1917.  They may have three sons; Gordon, Ivan and Joseph.  Ivy Shorthouse died in 1978 aged 81 years old. 

Derbyshire Times 29th July 1914 p3

John Cyril got a job working for Sheepbridge Coal & Iron Company at the Glapwell colliery.  He was employed as a rope boy.  Tragedy struck on 28th July 1914 when he was found crushed inbetween some tubs. 

The report from the "Coal mining accidents and deaths" website states -  

He was walking along an endless rope haulage road which was level at this point, the speed of the rope being 24. miles an hour. He met an empty set of five tubs which got off the way a few yards in front of him and he ran forward to get behind it. The front tub sided over and he was crushed by it against the pack.

http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/site/database/result/74152.html

John Cyril was only 15 years of age.  He was buried on 31st July 1914 at Ault Hucknall.  His death was also noted in the Derbyshire Times on 29th July 1914.



*****

Special thanks to C Beadle for the written details,

photographs and documents she

provided for use in this remembrance

of Corporal Francis Maskery.

*****

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

I hope that I have not given details of living persons, if so please advise and I will remove immediately.

Please note all information has been taken from online indexes and sources.  Due to the sheer numbers of people to be researched I am unable to purchase vital event certificates to confirm my research.

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The Great Grand daughter of Francis is editor of a magazine called The Maskery Magazine, for anyone interested a copy of the magazine is kept at Chesterfield Local Studies Library.  The magazine includes many interesting articles, one of which tells the story of Francis' brothers WW1 service.  Feel free to email me and I will pass any messages on to her.

She also kindly provided a copy of the birth certificate for Francis Maskery (1), marriage certificate for Hilda Buck & Francis Maskery (2) and death certificate for Corporal Francis Maskery (3). 

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Ref and further reading  -

Census

Parish registers

Medal rolls

Soldiers who died in the Great war

Register of soldiers effects

Newspaper articles - Derbyshire Times

CWGC  http://www.cwgc.org
School admission books @ Find My Past
Service record @ Find My Past

www.ancestry.co.uk
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
www.findmypast.co.uk

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

Coal mining history resource centre -

http://www.cmhrc.co.uk