Lawrence Wheelhouse
Lawrence (known as Lorry) Wheelhouse was employed as a lace worker.
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Lawrence Wheelhouse (known as Lorry ) was born in 1898 at Nottingham, he was the son of John Wheelhouse a paper hanger and Miriam Wheelhouse née Guy of 22 Richmond Stret, Nottingham
His father John was born in 1867 at Nottingham, his mother Miriam Guy born in 1862 also in Nottingham, they were married in 1895 at Nottingham, they went on to have 7 children 1 sadly died in infancy or early childhood.
His brothers: John, born in 1888 in Nottingham and working as a labourer, William Ernest, born in 1892 in Nottingham and working as a carter, Leonard, born in 1902 in Nottingham and Marshall, born 2 October 1902 (O/N/D Nottingham) in Nottingham.
Sisters: Jenny Elizabeth b. 27 June 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham), Mabel Guy, born in 1894 in Nottingham and employed as a lace worker.
The family lived at 22 Richmond Street, Nottingham before moving to 2 Kingston Terrace, Beaumont Street, Nottingham.
In the 1911 census the family are living at 22 Richmond Street, Notingham, John 44 yrs is a paprer hanger, he is living with his wife Miriam 49 yrs a lace worker, and their children, John 23 yrs a labourer, Wellington 19 yrs a carter, Mable 17 yrs a lace worker, Lorry 13 yrs a lace dresser, Leonard 9 yrs and Marshall 8 yrs of age. On the census John has stated he and Miriam had been married for 24 yrs (however there is no trace of their marruage in that year)
Private Lawrence Wheelhouse attested on 25th June 1914 at Nottingham giving a false age of 18 yrs and 255 days, (he was only 16 years old born 1898)
On 27th June 1094 4 he was placed with the Sherwood Foresters Special Reserve, but was finally posted to France on 04th January 1915.
The battalion was in the front line during the winter of 1914-15 in the Bethune area. It was a quiet period, though there were occasional episodes of shelling machine gun fire and sniping. Pte. Wheelhouse was killed in action just over three weeks after he arrived in France.
He was buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France (grave ref. : IX. C. 32).
Nottingham Evening Post, 30 December 1909: ‘Brutal Husband. Three months for a Nottm. Man. For assaulting his wife, John Wheelhouse, painter, of 22, Richmond-street, Nottingham, was sentenced by the local magistrates to-day to three months imprisonment. Marian (sic) Wheelhouse, the prosecutrix, said that on Monday the prisoner struck her on the face with a hammer, and punched her several times. Her nose and er were cut, and she had two bad black eyes, medical attention being necessary.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Dear Sir, Just a few lines in acknowledgement to my son, Pte L Wheelhouse, 4710, Notts and Derby Regt, (-) & 2 rings which I thank you very much for being so kind to me for if it be ever so little we shall treasure them and am still yours (letter damaged)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour' (abridged), 3 July 1916: 'Wheelhouse, killed in action June 8th 1916, Private W Wheelhouse, brother to Private L Wheelhouse, killed in action January 30th 1915. Mother, father, sisters, brothers.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour' (abridged), 13 July 1916: 'Private W Wheelhouse, Sherwood Foresters, 2 Kingston Terrace, Nottingham, killed 8th June age 24. Brother of L Wheelhouse killed January 30th 1915, aged 18.'
In memoriam published 30th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-
“WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear son, Pte. Lorry Wheelhouse, killed in action January 30th, 1915. Oh, why was he taken, so young and so fair, from mother and father that loved him so dear; hard was the blow that compelled us to part, from one so loving and dear to our hearts. - From his loving mother, father, brothers Leonard, Marshall, Jack (prisoner of war in Germany).
“WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear brother Lorry, killed in action January 30th, 1915. Gone from our home, but not from our hearts. - From sister Jenny and children, Floss, Alfred, Miriam.
“WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear brother Lorry, killed in action January 30th, 1915. A beautiful memory left behind, his duty nobly done. - From sister Mabel and Bill.”
Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
His brother, 4740 Private William Wheelhouse, 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters, was killed on 8 June 1916 aged 24. (Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy). (See record on this Roll of Honour)
His brother Private John (Jack) Wheelhouse, serving with “C Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, was taken prisoner at Oppy Wood on 28th April 1917, he survived the war.
Lawrence Wheelhouse
Buried in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy