Ernest Castledine
Ernest Castledine was a self-employed fish fryer.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Ernest Castledine was the son of James Castledine and Mary Ann Webster (b. 1862), who married at Radford Christ Church on 2 April 1882.
James and Mary Ann had twelve children, only seven of whom were living at the time of the 1911 census. Eleven children have been traced (Castledine/Webster reg. Nottm): Mary Ann b. 1882 (Bell, d. 1929), Clara b. 1884 (Garton d. 1954), Ernest b. 1886 (d. 1889), James William b. 1888 (d. 1956), Ernest b. 1890 (KIA 1918), Charles b. 1891 (d. 1891), Frederick b. 1894 (d. 1921), triplets Ethel (Fisher d. 1962), George (d. 1974) and Thomas Shervin (d. 1900) b. 17 November 1900 (bap 22 November Hyson Green St Stephen) and Grace b. 1903 (d. 1904).
The family homes, all in Hyson Green, were variously: 11 Bridlington Street [C.1891]; 64 Bateman Street [C.1901]; 1 Anson Terrace, [C.1911]; 11 Lambert Street [Army records/1919].
James Castledine, who worked as a lace maker and later in hosiery, died at Nottingham, aged 68, in 1932. His widow Mary Ann was still living at 11 Lambert Street with her unmarried son, James, a lace maker, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Mary Ann died, aged 79, in 1941. She was survived by four of her children: Clara, James, Ethel and George.
On 20 January 1911 Ernest Castledine married Elsie Jeffries at Hyson Green St Paul’s. They had four children: Ernest (b.1911), Francis Leonard (b.1912), James (b.1915) and Arthur J. (b.1918/d.1926).
In 1911 the couple and their eldest son, Ernest, were living at 69 Denman Street, Radford. His Army service records gave his widow’s address in 1919 as 25 Medway Street, Radford.
Elsie and her four sons were still living at 25 Medway Street, Radford, in 1921. Also in the household was her son, Ronald Allison (b. 1920, Allison/Jeffries) and a boarder, Ernest Allison (31, married), a timber loader at a saw mill. Two of Elsie's children predeceased her; Ronald died in 1923 aged three and her son Arthur Jeffries drowned in July 1926 after falling into the Wollaton Canal. (See 'Extra information')
Elsie Castledine died at Nottingham, aged 47, in 1937 (burial 29 November).
Enlisted in Nottingham on 7 October 1914, having previous served in the Robin Hoods [Service No.2989]; initially served with 1st/7th Bn. Sherwood Foresters.
Leg injuries led to him being sent back to England 7 March 1916; re-embarked for France 13 August 1916 and joined 1st/5th Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal 21 February 1917; appointed paid Lance Corporal 10 September 1917; reduced to Private for several different infractions of the rules 24 January 1918.
Ernest was killed in action on 17 October 1918 and was buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France (grave ref. IV. A. 2).
History of Busigny Communal Cemtery Extension: The village of Busigny about 10km from Le Cateau and 24km from St. Quentin. 'Busigny was captured by the 30th American Division and British cavalry on 9 October 1918, in the Battle of Cambrai, and in the course of the next two months the 48th, 37th and 12th Casualty Clearing Stations came successively to the village. The majority of the burials were made from these three hospitals. The cemetery extension was begun in October 1918, and used until February 1919. After the Armistice it was enlarged when graves were brought into Plots II-VII of graves from a wide area between Cambrai and Guise. The following cemeteries were concentrated into it [see CWGC website for details].' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4 November 1918: ‘Castledine. Killed in action October 17th, 1918. Pte Ernest, Sherwood Foresters, Hyson Green, aged 28. Bitter the blow, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear. Sorrowing father, mother, sisters, brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 4 November 1918: ‘Castledine. Killed in action October 17th, 1918. Pte Ernest, Sherwood Foresters, Hyson Green, aged 28, sadly missed. From his sorrowing brother and sister, Bill and Clara.’ Note: Clara married William Jarvis Bell at Hyson Green St Stephen in August 1904. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
'In memoriam' notices published 17th October 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-
“CASTLEDINE. – In loving memory of Pte. Ernest Castledine, killed in action October 17th, 1918, Ever in our thoughts. – From sorrowing wife and children.
“CASTLEDINE. – In loving memory of our dear son, Pte. Ernest Castledine, killed in action October 17th, 1918, 1/5th Sherwood Foresters. With aching hearts we shook his hand, tears glistened in our eyes; we wished him luck, but never thought it was his last good-bye. – From mother, father, sisters, brothers.”
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Ernest's brother, Frederick, enlisted on 18 January 1915 aged 20y 183d and served in the 2/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), 3638/266098 Private. He disembarked in theatre on 18 August 1915. He was demobilised on 19 March 1919, but had sustained serious injuries during the war: Admitted to hospital 19 August 1916 discharged 21 November 1916 bullet wound causing fracture. 2nd Northern General Hospital Leeds, 12 December 1916-5 Jan 1916/Allerton 6 January 1916-5 February 1917 shrapnel wound jaw. Sheffield 25 November 1917-20 December 1917 GSW left arm. Frederick continued to attend for medical examinations after demobilization: 1920/1921, GSW face, GSW (L) thigh. The Army medical record also recorded his final illness: 'Hyson Green 28 October 1921. Man in diabetic coma, very emaciated and dangerously? ill. Man received for urgent (-) treatment at Nottm Gen Hospital, 28 October 1921. Died 29 October 1921.' Frederick qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Nottingham Evening Post, 10 July 1926: ‘Nottingham Boy Drowned. Falling into the Wollaton Canal near No. 5 Lock last night, an eight-years old boy, Arthur Jeffries Castledine, of 25, Medway-street, Old Radford, was unfortunately drowned. His body was recovered and removed to the Hyson Green mortuary.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 2 April 1932: ‘Mr and Mrs J Castledine. Mr and Mrs James Castledine of 11, Lambert-street, Hyson Green, are celebrating their golden wedding today. There will be a family reunion at their home tomorrow afternoon, when it is expected that their four surviving children, together with grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, will be present. Mr Castledine is 68 years of age and his wife 70. Both enjoy excellent health, and Mr Castledine is still carrying on his work as a hosiery worker. Originally he was a lace hand. The couple were married at Christ Church, New Radford, on April 2nd, 1882,and there were 13-sic children of the marriage, four of whom survive – two sons [James, George] and two daughters [Clara, Ethel]. One son was killed in the war [Ernest], and another [Frederick], wounded nine times, died shortly after his discharge. The couple boast 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of Ernest Castledine
Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France (www.cwgc.org)