Harold Viccars Bright
Attended Grosvenor School (Waterloo Crescent) and Mill Hill. He was employed by Cooper & Roe, hosiery manufacturers. He was a member of University College Nottingham OTC.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Harold Viccars was the youngest son of Arthur Bright and Margaret Ellis Bright (nee Viccars).
His father Arthur was born in Nottingham in 1851 (OND) and his wife Margaret Ellis in Leicester in 1861 (AMJ). They were married in 1881 (AMJ Leicester) and had six children who were born in Nottingham: Margaret Warner b. 1882, twin boys Arthur Kingsley and Archibald Viccars b. 1884, Adeline Mary birth registered 1888 (JFM), Elsie Downing b. 1892 and Harold Viccars b. 1898.
Arthur Bright was a solicitor and in 1891 he and his wife Margaret were living at 7 Villa Road, Mansfield Road, Nottingham, with their four children, Margaret (8), Arthur (6), Archibald (6) and Adeline (3). Also in the home on the night of the census were two visitors, Arthur's unmarried sister-in-law Frances D Viccars (34) who was a school mistress, and Frank E Baker (32) a single man who was a chartered accountant. Arthur employed three servants, a cook, a nurse (domestic) and a housemaid.
By 1901 the family had moved to 30 Mapperley Road, Nottingham. Only four of their six children were in the house on the night of the census: Margaret, Adeline, Elsie (8) and Harold (3). It is likely that his twin sons, Arthur and Archibald, who would have been 16 years old, were away at school. Arthur employed three live-in domestic servants; cook, housemaid and nurse (domestic).
Arthur Bright died at the age of 57 in 1909 and in 1911 his widow Margaret, now head of household, was living at 40 Mapperley Road. Also in the home on the night of the census was Arthur a farm student, Archibald a solicitor, and Adeline and Harold. Margaret Bright employed two servants, a cook and a housemaid.
Harold's eldest sister, Margaret, married Sydney Woodward in 1907 and in 1911 they were living at Park Dale, Peveril Drive, Nottingham. Sydney was a lace manufacturer and a director of Frank Woodward Co. Ltd. He and Margaret had one daughter, Evelyn (2). Also in the household were three domestic servants. However, on 19 July 1916 Margaret filed a petition for the 'restitution of conjugal rights' and although the petition was dismissed there were further proceedings in 1918 and 1919. The probate record for Margaret Warner Woodward describes her as a 'single woman' so if not divorced she may have been legally separated.
Margaret Ellis Bright was still living at 40 Mapperley Road when her son Harold was killed in 1918 but she later moved to Leicester and at the time of her death on 13 February 1937 was living at 81 Knighton Church Road.
Of Harold's siblings:
Margaret Warner Woodward died on 27 March 1956 in hospital in Lincoln; her address was then The Cottage-on-the-Green, Car Colston, Nottinghamshire.
Archibald Viccars, Lieutenant Sherwood Foresters 3rd Bn attd 11th Bn, was killed in action on 7 June 1917.
Arthur Kingsley served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and appears to have remained in Canada as there is a record of him on the 1921 Canadian Census.
Adeline Mary married Frederick Crooks in 1920 (JAS Kings Norton Warwickshire), and died on 5 March 1964. She was a widow and living at The Cottage-on-the-Green, Car Colston.
Elsie Downing married in Canada (Dayton) and died on 8 February 1953 in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Served initially as 67140 Private Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Commissioned Second Lieutenant March 1917 in the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, and subsequently served with the BEF France.
Harold Viccars Bright was killed in action on 21 September 1918 and was buried in Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt (grave ref C.56).
CWGC history of Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt: the villages of Trefcon and Caulaincourt are about 14km from St Quentin and the cemetery is situated between the two villages. 'On 22nd March 1918 Caulaincourt and Trefcon was captured by the Germans, in spite of a stout defence by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The villages were regained by British troops in September 1918. The cemetery was made by the IX Corps (6th and 32nd Divisions) in September 1918.' It was known at the time as Caulaincourt Military Cemetery. (www.cwgc.org)
Harold's brother, Archibald Viccars, Lieutenant Sherwood Foresters 3rd Bn attd 11th Bn, was killed in action on 7 June 1917.
Harold's cousin, Second Lieutenant Frank Arnold Bright, 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters, youngest son of Sir Joseph and Lady Bright, was killed in action on 13 October 1915. Another son of Sir Joseph, Captain Arthur Stanley Bright, Sherwood Foresters, was wounded and taken prisoner in March 1918 but was repatriated in the September. Another cousin, Joseph John Bright, the son of Lawrence and Hannah Bright, served in the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (117439 Private) and died ('illness') in Lincoln Hospital on 27 June 1918.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, Thursday 3 October 1918: ‘Killed. Lieut. Harold Viccars Bright, Sherwood Foresters, youngest son of the late Mr Arthur Bright and Mrs Bright of Mapperley-road, Nottingham, was killed in action on September 21st. He was educated at Mill Hill, and later entered the business of Messrs. Cooper and Roe, hosiery manufacturers, Nottingham. After training with the University OTC he received his commission in March, 1917, and went out to France two months later. He was 20 years of age.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate: Bright Arthur of Lea Hurst Mapperley-road Nottingham solicitor died 9 July 1909 Probate Nottingham 21 February [1910] to Margaret Ellis Bright widow and sir Joseph Bright knight. Effects £27713 6s. 4d
Probate: Bright Archibald Viccars of 40 Mapperley-road Nottingham lieutenant in HM Army died 7 June 1917 in France of Belgium. Probate Nottingham 6 November [1917] to Adeline Mary Bright spinster and Horace Dickinson Bright solicitor. Effects £315 10s. 5d.
Probate: Bright Harold Viccars of 40 Mapperley-road Nottingham lieutenant in HM army died 21 September 1918 in France Administration Nottingham 20 August [1919] to Adeline Mary Bright spinster. Effects £319 8s. 3d.
Probate: Bright Margaret Ellis of 81 Knighton Church-road Leicester widow died 13 February 1937 Probate Nottingham 9 April [1937] to Adeline Mary Crooks (wife of Frederick Crooks). Effects £1612 13s. 7d.
British Columbia Canada Marriage Index: Elsie Downing Bright England.
Newspaper Index Cards 1790-1976. 12 February 1953: Elsie Downing Dayton father Arthur Bright mother’s name Bright, died 8 Feb 1953 West Vancouver British Columbia Canada: ‘Dayton On Feb 8, 1953, in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Elsie Downing Dayton, youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Arthur Bright, of Nottingham, and dear sister of Adeline Mary Crooks, The Cottage on the Green, Car Colston, Notts
Probate: Margaret Warner Woodward of The Cottage-on-the-Green Car Colston Nottinghamshire single woman died 27 March 1956 at The Lawn Hospital Lincoln Probate Nottingham 29 June to Barclays Bank Limited. Effects £5748 10s. 9d.
Probate: Crooks Adeline Mary of The Cottage-on-the-Green Car Colston Nottinghamshire widow died 5 March 1964 Probate Nottingham 9 April [1964] to Elizabeth Bridget Ruth Jackson spinster and Cedric Field Butler solicitor. £2241.
Research RF.
Photo of Harold Viccars Bright
Buried in Trefcon British Cemetery, Caulaincourt, France (www.cwgc.org)