Whittington-History

Ernest was born 19th March 1893 in Old Whittington to James and Mary, and was baptised at St Bartholomew’s on 10th May 1893. James was a miner and the family lived at 6 Lowes Row, Old Whittington. Ernest had three brothers and a sister. By the 1901 census they were living at 63 Church Street, and Ernest attended the Whittington Websters Endowed School on Church Street.

By the 1911 census James was still employed as a hewer; Ernest and his brother Thomas were working as colliery labourers, the family now living at Springwell, near Chesterfield.

Ernest joined the 2nd Notts and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters). The regiment formed in Sheffield in August 1914, moved to Edinburgh on mobilisation, then Cambridge under 18th Brigade in 6th Division, landing at St Nazaire on 11 September 1914. By May 1915 the battalion were based at Rue du Bois near Ypres, subjected to heavy shelling. On 9th May, Ernest suffered a gunshot wound to his thigh. He received field hospital treatment, then sailed home aboard hospital ship HMHS Anglia, and was transferred to the 4th London General Hospital, Denmark Hill.

Ernest was born in 1888 to Joseph and Bridget (née Gregory). The family lived in Lowgates, Staveley, then moved to High Street (Springwell Row), Whittington by the 1901 census.

In 1908 Ernest joined the Sherwood Foresters. His first posting in 1909 was to Secunderabad; in 1912 the regiment transferred to Bombay. In September 1914 they set sail back to England, landing at Plymouth on 2nd October 1914, moving to Hursley Park under 24th Brigade, 8th Division. On 2nd November 1914 they landed at Le Havre to join the action in France.

By May 1915 the battalion were at Rue du Bois near Ypres, where the 6th Division fought around the Ypres Salient — the battle in which poisonous gas was first deployed as a weapon. Ernest was wounded sometime in June/July 1915 and shipped home to the Norfolk War Hospital.

Edwin was born in 1882, son of Thomas and Caroline (née Bamford) in Somercotes. The 1891 census places the family at 23 Cinder Road. Edwin’s brother William died in 1893. Edwin served an apprenticeship as a ‘core maker’ and married Emma Ashley at Riddings Church on 26th December 1903. By the 1911 census Edwin and Emma were at 15 Prospect Road, Old Whittington, with children Nellie and Charles, and his parents living with them. In 1912 a third child, Mabel, was born.

Edwin enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps at Chatham. His pension card records that he had been on munitions work from 23 August 1916 to 27 June 1918.

Harry was born in 1900 in Worsborough, Yorkshire, eldest child of John and Edith (née Straw). Edith was a native of New Whittington. By the 1911 census the family were at 107 High Street, New Whittington. After leaving school Harry worked in the Staveley Coal and Iron wagon shop. Harry’s mother Edith was the sister of John Edward Straw (no. 7 on this trail), who also has a Commonwealth War Grave in this churchyard.

Harry was called up on his 18th birthday under the Military Service Act 1916. He was attested to the Sherwood Foresters and sent to Rugely Camp on Cannock Chase — a purpose-built camp able to hold up to 40,000 men, with trench-warfare training facilities.

James was born on 19th May 1899 to John and Hannah Shawcroft, baptised on 7th June 1899 at St Bartholomew’s, Old Whittington. He enlisted in Chesterfield on 28th October 1916, aged only 17 and five months, joining the 3rd Battalion Notts and Derbyshire Regiment. Before enlisting he had worked in the pit as a ‘clipper on’ — attaching a cable to coal carts to aid pulling them to the surface. When signing up he appears to have given his age as 19.

James was held in a Reserve Battalion but mobilised on 19th June and dispatched to Sunderland as part of the Tyne Garrison, defending the Tyne by manning the gun batteries. From his Army Registers of Soldiers Effects entry, he was likely attached to the Transport Branch — fitting his pre-war pit experience. By 1918 he appears to have been promoted to sergeant.

William was born in Old Whittington on 1st March 1891, son of George and Sophia Husband. By the 1911 census William was employed as a teacher. He signed up to the Durham Light Infantry in December 1914, later transferring to the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, landing at Boulogne on 14 July 1915 and serving at Givenchy, Bellewaarde and Hooge. In April 1917 they supported the French offensive at the Chemin des Dames — the Battle of Arras, including Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe.

William’s service was recognised with promotion to the officer rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers.

John was born in 1876 in Brimington to John and Jane (née Adams). By 1878 the family had moved to South Street, New Whittington. Of fourteen children, only eight survived to adulthood. Jane died in 1907, aged 51.

John signed up at Mansfield on 21st August 1915, aged 38, posted to the 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Welbeck Warriors). They landed in France on 6th March 1916. John was in action near Givenchy at the end of May 1916. He was shipped back to England in August 1916, likely due to injury or illness, and in November 1916 transferred to the 2/6th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He was discharged on 18th April 1917 as ‘no longer fit for war service’. He subsequently worked as a coal hewer in Mansfield Woodhouse before being admitted to Mansfield Hospital.

James proved difficult to trace. A clue was found when he left part of his War Pension Gratuity to a Mrs Mary Godfrey, with whom he had lodged. In the 1911 census he appears (as ‘James Bunning’) at 7 Station Road, Chesterfield, employed as a ‘Carter brewery’, aged 34. He was born around 1877.

James signed up to the Royal Engineers — known as the Sappers, providing military engineering and technical support to the British Army. He was mobilised on 19th June and dispatched to Sunderland as part of the Tyne Garrison, defending the Tyne by manning the gun batteries. His pre-war career as a carter fits with an attachment to the Transport Branch. By 1918 he had likely been promoted to sergeant.

Leonard William was born in 1896 to John and Clara Davidson, baptised at St Bartholomew’s, Old Whittington, on 25th September 1896. He signed up to the 3rd Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 3rd June 1915 and was posted to the 16th Battalion, fighting on the Somme. On 13th November he received a bayonet wound to the right thigh during the capture of St Pierre Divion, and was shipped home for treatment. He returned to the front in October 1917 with the 1/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.

In a letter to his parents Leonard described being injured in August 1918 during German shelling near Beaumont-Hamel — shrapnel wounds to his left cheek — and being carried to the first aid post by a German prisoner of war. He was shipped home to Kirbymoorside for medical care. In December 1918 he was posted to Ripon Camp, then Clipston Camp for demobilisation.

John Abell was born in Mansfield in 1872 to William and Ann (née Clarke). In 1893 John married Selina Ellen Lucas. By the 1911 census they were at 175 The Blocks, off Sheffield Road, Old Whittington. John enlisted in Chesterfield for the Notts and Derby Regiment and was later transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, formed September 1915. The battalion moved to India, remaining under command of the Presidency Brigade in the 8th (Indian) Division on internal security duties throughout the war.

Arthur was born in 1918 to Henry and Emma (née Barnett), the family living on Mountcastle Street, Whittington Moor. He was one of fifteen children. Arthur signed up to the Royal Corps of Signals on the outbreak of war, serving in France (1940), Tunisia (1943, 1st Air Formation Signals, Lance Corporal), and Germany. In June 1940 he was briefly recorded as ‘missing’ before being confirmed safe. In May 1943 he was recorded as wounded. In April 1945 he married Phyllis May Grose.

In December 1945 Arthur was involved in a motor accident whilst serving in Germany, and never left hospital. In July 1947 a successful operation on his left kidney was performed. A further operation on his right kidney was deemed necessary; prior to it, he was given a radio-active drug by injection. He immediately felt ill and, despite every effort of the medical staff, died.

Geoffrey was born on 21st April 1926 to Frederick and Sarah Elizabeth (née Kidger). By the 1939 Register the family were living at 623 Sheffield Road, Old Whittington; Frederick was a Foreman Fitter. Geoffrey joined the Air Training Corps (ATC), formed February 1941 from the Air Defence Cadet Corps. He was visiting Balderton Airfield for an air experience flight aboard a Handley Page Hampden I, Squadron 408 (Goose), piloted by Squadron Leader L. B. B. Price, with Observer Sgt I. Hughes and cadet K. R. Couzin Wood also on board.

Joseph was born 23rd January 1905 to Arthur and Charlotte (née Coupe), baptised 20th February 1905 in Newbold Parish Church, one of nine children. In April 1932 Joseph married Mary Ellen Betton at Hasland Parish Church; their son Joseph A. was born in August 1932. The 1939 Register places the family at 53 Newbridge Lane, Old Whittington, Joseph’s occupation: colliery hewer. At the outbreak of war he signed up to the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, retitled the Pioneer Corps in 1940 and granted the Royal prefix in 1946.

Jean was born in January 1923 in Belper to James and Georgina (née Cope), with sisters Enid (born 1922) and Peggy (born 1932). Her father died in 1935; her mother married William Cox in 1937. By the 1939 Register the family lived on Fowler Street, Old Whittington. Jean served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service — the women’s branch of the British Army during the Second World War, formed September 1938, merged into the Women’s Royal Army Corps on 1 February 1949. She held the rank of Lance Corporal, service number 168174.

Charles was born on 6th November 1912 to Charles Edwin and Alice (née Damen), baptised 5th April 1913 at St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield. In October 1937 Charles married Kathleen Harvey; by the 1939 Register they were living at 41 London Street, New Whittington. On the outbreak of war Charles joined the 5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders (152nd Brigade, 51st Highland Division), serving in the Middle East, the Allied invasion of Sicily (July 1943), the Allied invasion of Italy (September 1943), and then North-West Europe. In 1942 the battalion was in action in the Western Desert. Charles was wounded on 20th November 1942.

Ernest was born in 1902 to Jonathan and Ellen (née Rogers). Ernest married Ida Alice Partridge in June 1932 in Eckington Parish Church; their daughter Hazel was born in 1933. He joined the West Yorks Regiment in 1924, with service in Bermuda until 1931, and was called up with the reserves in 1939 to serve as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps. He served as a bandsman throughout his war service and was an all-round athlete. He had been an active member of Chesterfield British Legion, New Whittington Dramatic Society, and New Whittington (Brearley Park) Tennis Club. Apart from his war service, he carried out the duties of sexton and verger at Old Whittington Parish Church.