Charles Sketchley
1911 - clerk
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
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Charles Sketchley was the eldest son of Charles Sketchley and his wife Mary Neale (née Harris), who was born in Walsall in 1868. They were married in 1889 (reg. JAS Derby).
They had three children, including a daughter who died in childhood. All the children were born in Nottingham: Charles b. 1892 (OND) bap. St Peter on 16 December 1892, Elizabeth birth registered 1895 (JFM) bap. St Peter 24 December 1894 d. 30 March 1897 and William b. 1898 (OND) bap. St Mark 26 October 1898.
Charles and Mary have not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but were living on Wheeler Gate when Charles was baptised in 1892, at 12 Canal Street when Elizabeth was baptised (1894), and at 17 Union Street at the time of their son William's baptism (1898). The address on Union Street was probably when Charles snr. was the publican of the Union Inn.
According to the probate record, Charles snr. who died at Radcliffe-upon-Trent on 7 November 1899, was the 'beerhouse-keeper' at the Union Inn, Union Road, Nottingham.
In 1901, his widow Mary (32) and her eldest son Charles (8), both with the surname Swanwick, were recorded as visitors at 8 Festus Street, Nottingham, in the household of Alfred Swanwick (42), a lace designer (own account/at home), 'married', and his three children, John (20), Lilian (19) and Ethel (14). Mary's son William (b. 1898) has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census. The only daughter, Elizabeth, had died in 1897.
There is a record for an Alfred Swanwick who married Elizabeth Hitchcock at Nottingham St Paul in February 1879. They had at least six children: Elizabeth b. 1879 (probably died 1880), John Alfred b. 1880, Lillier (sic) b. 1881, Ethel b. 1887, Edith b. 1889 and Henry b. 1891 (?d. 1892). In 1891 Alfred, a lace draughtsman, his wife Elizabeth (35) and their children John, Lilie, Ethel, Edith and Henry, were living on Outgang Lane, Radford.
In 1911 Charles (18), a clerk, and William (12), surnames Sketchley, were living with their mother Mary (42 b. Walsall) at 43 Westville Street, Nottingham. Mary's surname was given as 'Swanwick' and she was described as the wife of Alfred Swanwick, a draughtsman (lace trade), of the same address; they had been married for nine years (no marriage record yet traced). Also in the household was Alfred's daughter, Ethel Swanwick (24), a blouse hand.
The 1917 probate record for Charles jnr. gave his address as 11 Eastville Street, Nottingham, and Mary (Sketchley) and her son William (22) were living at this address in 1921. Also in the household was a boarder, Alfred Swanwick (61), a gateman for Cammell Laird & Co on Kings Meadow Road.
William, a boiler maker, of 11 Eastville (sic) Street, Nottingham, married Florence Alice Hill, of the same address, at Nottingham Emmanuel Church on 24 December 1921. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, William, an electric acetylene welder, and his wife together with their sons Charles (b. 1923) and Maurice (b. 1925), were living at 2nd Caravan, Villa Street, Beeston, Nottingham. His mother, Mary Sketchley, 'married', was living at 1st Caravan, Villa Street.
Mary Sketchley died on 25 January 1946; the probate record gave her address as Caravan, Hawthorne Street, Nottingham. Administration was awarded to her son, William, 'showman'.
William died on 19 November 1959; the probate record gave his address as Radford Boulevard, Nottingham. He was survived by his wife Florence who died in 1994 (reg. Louth Lincolnshire). She was buried in Trusthorpe Cemetery, Louth, and the headstone included the commemoration, 'loving wife of William 'Bill' Sketchley 1899-1959'.
Charles Sketchley enlisted at Nottingham. He served with the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, having transferred from the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment).
He was killed in action on 9 April 1917 and is buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, France (grave ref II.E.4). The history of the Cemetery, and the grave number, suggests his grave was brought in after the Armistice from either the surrounding battlefields or a smaller burial ground.
CWGC history of Tilloy British Cemetery (extract): The village of Tilloy-les-Mofflaines is 3km from the town of Arras. 'The cemetery was begun in April 1917 by fighting units and burial officers, and Rows A to H in Plot I largely represent burials from the battlefield. The remaining graves in Plot I, and others in the first three rows of Plot II, represent later fighting in 1917 and the first three months of 1918, and the clearing of the village in August 1918. These 390 original burials were increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from a wide area east of Arras and from the following smaller burial grounds [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
Charles' brother, William, also served in the War, initially in the 3/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (3525/266212) but was apparently discharged (date unclear) as being under-age, having given his age as 20 (b. 1898 OND). He had joined the Army (embodied service) on 22 February 1915 and served in France from 3 March 1916-4 August 1916. William transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (121859 Private) on 4 October 1917 and served in France from 26 November 1917-May 1918. He received hospital treatment ('debility') in France between 27 March 1918 and 10 April 1918 and was then posted Home on 12 May 1918 and again admitted to hospital. William was demobilized on 8 December 1919 to 11 Eastville Street, Nottingham. His occupation prior to joining the Army was lace warehouseman, Messrs. Sedgley, Angel Row, Nottingham.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave. Headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of Charles Sketchley died November 7th 1899, aged 30 years. Also Elizabeth daughter of the above died March 30th 1897 aged 2 years and 3 months. And of Charles, eldest son of the above, killed in action at Arras, April 9th 1917, aged 24 years. 'He nobly answered duty's call, He gave his life for one and all, A loving son and brother kind, A beautiful memory he's left behind.' Also of Mary Sketchley beloved wife of Charles and mother of Elizabeth and Charles died January 25th 1946, aged 77 years. Reunited. 'Life's work well done with beautiful memories left behind.' In memory of a loving husband, William Sketchley, son of the above Charles and Mary, who passed away May 19th 1959 aged 60 years.'
Memorial Alrewas National Memorial Arboretum. Memorial: Showmen’s Guild WW1/WW2: Charles Sketchley, Northumberland Fusiliers. 'Member of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain [Derby and Notts, Mid and South Lincs, Section] and WW1 casualty.'
CWGC Additional information: Son of Charles and Mary Sketchley, of 11, East Ville St., Nottingham. Note: Charles Sketchley died in 1899 when the family was living at the Union Inn, Union Road/Street, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Till we meet again'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 28 April 1917: 'Sketchley. Killed in action April 9th Sergeant Charles Sketchley age 24 eldest son of the late Charles Sketchley late Union Inn, Union Road. Mother, brother.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Probate. Sketchley Charles of the ‘Union’ inn Union-road Nottingham beerhouse-keeper died 7 November 1899 at Radcliffe-upon-Trent Nottinghamshire Administration Nottingham 11 December to Mary Sketchley widow.
Probate: Sketchley Charles of 11 Eastville-street Nottingham sergeant in H.M. Army died 9 April 1917 in France on active service. Administration Nottingham 19 March to Mary Sketchley widow. Effects £166 6s.7d.
Probate. Sketchley Mary of Caravan Hawthorne-street Nottingham widow died 25 January 1946 Probate Nottingham 7 May to William Sketchley showman.
Additional research/record updated, RF (Aug. 2026)
Photo of Charles Sketchley
Grave, Tilloy British Cemetery. Photograph: International War Graves Photograph Project/Find A Grave websites.
Photo of Charles Sketchley
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (6 August 2026)