Stephen Reddish
In 1911 he was a milk boy.
- Family History
- Military history
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Stephen Reddish was born in 1896 at Nottingham, he was baptised on 24th November 1895 at St John's Church, Nottingham, he was the son Stephen a drayman and Sarah Ann Reddish née Higham and the brother of Arthur and Edwin Cullen Reddish.
His father Stephen went to live at Montreal, Camada his mother Sarah Ann Higham was born in 1869 at Nottingham, they were married in 1894 at Nottingham, they had 4 children, sadly 1 died in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 11 Kirkby Street, Arkwright Street, Nottingham, his mother Sarah Ann 42 yrs a laundry worker, she is living with her children, Stephen 15 yrs a milk boy, Arthur 12 yrs a scholar and Edwin 9 years of age.
his attestation papers (14th August 1914) he states his father was living in Montreal, Canada.
Gunner Stephen Reddish enlisted at Nottingham on 14th August 1914, he gave his age as 19 yrs and 329 days, his occupation as that of a shop assistant. He was posted to the Royal Garrison Artillery, being posted to 14th Heavy Battery and then, on 9th November 1914, to the 15th Heavy Battery. He was discharged as not physically fit for service due to epilepsy on 13th March 1915.
Returning to civilian life, he got a job as a steward on a houseboat. It appears that he had a fit and drowned after falling into the Trent on 8th April 1915.
Above details are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Article published in the Nottingham Daily Express dated 12th April 1915 :-
“HOUSEBOAT TRAGEDY.
“Nottingham Steward's Sad Death at Thrumpton.
“A verdict of Accidentally Drowned was returned at the inquest held at Thrumpton on Saturday [10th April 1915] in reference to the death of Stephen Reddish, aged 19, the young Nottingham steward, whose body was recovered from the Trent on Friday. [9th April 1915]
“The young man took up his duties as steward on Mr. C. R. Woodward's houseboat at Thrumpton on April 1st. On Thursday morning, a boy who was also sleeping on the boat aroused the deceased at 6.45, and a few minutes later he passed the boy's bunk fully dressed. From that moment he was not again seen until his body was recovered from the river at noon the following day by Police-Constable Reedman. Close to the body a mop was found in the water.
“Mr. Woodward told the coroner, Mr. D. Whittingham, that after he engaged the lad, the latter had an epileptic fit and was unconscious about two minutes. Witness spoke to him on the matter, and Reddish replied that he “was growing out of them.” The deceased did not want to leave his situation, and witness advised him to be very careful and rest whenever he felt faint or dizzy.”
Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Stephen Reddish's death was registered at Basford UDC (near Nottingham) A/M/J/1915. There exists no Medal Roll record for this soldier so it must be assumed he died without serving overseas.
No CWGC, UKSWD records. This page has been compiled from census and BMD data,
David Nunn. Further information added from his army service record (Peter Gillings)
Note: there was also Stephen Albert Reddish, another Meadows resident. He served with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Medal Roll indicates he arrived in theatre (France) 29/8/1915. Stephen Albert Reddish survived the war and died in 1988 aged 93.
David Nunn
No photos