Benjamin Lewis Hague
He was a window cleaner in 1911.
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Benjamin Lewis Hague was born in 1885 in Nottingham and was the son of Benjamin a warper in the lace manufacturing industry and Laura Hagu née Levers
His father Benjamin was born in 1864 and his mother Laura Levers in 1866 both at Nottingham. they were married on 2nd December 1883 at St Savious Church, Meadows, Nottingham, Benjamin’s siblings were Lily b.1888, Emma Amelia b.1890, Isaac b.1892, Harold b.1894 and Annie Laura b.1898. Benjamin
Lewis married Edith May Merring (born 1887 Newark) in 1906 at Nottingham. They had four children two dying in infancy. The survivors were Louis Charles b.1909 and Sydney Frank b.1910.
In 1911 they lived at 10 Rathbone Place Nottingham.
In the same census his parents were living at 30 Bateman Street Bobbersmill Road Nottingham. Benjamin 47 yrs is a warper, he is living with his wife Laura 45 yrs and their children, Isaac 18 yrs a grinder, Harold 1 yrs and their married daughter Lilly Gibbon 24 yrs and her husand William Gibbon 24 yrs a general labourer.
Benjamin Hague enlisted at Nottingham served with the 2nd battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and landed in France on 27th October 1914 he was killed in action on 24th May 1915 having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Panels 8 and 12
His brother Lance Corporal Isaac (Ike) Hague, enlisted on 19th August 1911 in Derby aged 18 yrs and 11 months , he was a carriage hand in a lace machine factory, he initially served with the service number 11840 in the territorial battalion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). At the outbreak of war he was embodied for service and landed in France on 11th December 1914. He was later injured, a crushed foot and returned to England for treatment . When he was fit again he once again embarked for France on 10th July 1916 and transferred on 30th August 1916 to the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. On 3rd October 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal in the field. He died of wounds (gun shot wound to his chest ) on 13th August 1917 at No 44 Casualty Clearing Station . He is buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery.
Two days before his death, excerpts from a letter he sent to his mother in Nottingham were printed in the Nottingham Evening Post (22nd May 1915).
‘22 DAYS IN THE TRENCHES.
NOTTINGHAM MAN’S BRAVE STAND.
“I am still safe, although I have come through the roughest time of my life.” In these words Sergt. B. Hague, of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, and son of Mrs. Hague, 117, Brushfield Street, Birkin Avenue, Nottingham, opens a letter which gives a brief but vivid description of his experiences. “What was left of our battalion,” he writes, “came out of the trenches yesterday morning after being in 22 days, and every man was completely dead beat. We have had an awful time, and lost heavily. The whole lot of us have been complimented by the general, and I in particular, as I held the line with 60 men. It is in all the French papers about us, and the gallant stand we made so I expect you will get it in the English papers shortly. There were thousands of Germans attacking us, but the lads all stuck it, and drove the blighters back.”’
Article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Hague's birth was registered A/M/J/1885 so he may have been 30 when killed
Courtesy of Jim Grundy and his Facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914 -1918