Walter Geary
Walter was a tailor in 1911.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Walter was the son of Arthur and Matilda Emily Geary.
Walter's father, Arthur, was born in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, in about 1866, the son of Arthur and Ann Geary. Arthur's parents were born in the Nottingham conurbation, as were his siblings, and the family was recorded in the city on the census records between 1871 and 1891. In 1891 Arthur, a lace hand was living with his widowed mother and four of his siblings at the School House, St Paul's Avenue, Radford, where his mother was the school caretaker.
His mother Matilda Emily was born in Heanor, Derbyshire, the daughter of Thomas and Eliza Saxton, in 1870 and was baptised at Heanor St Lawrence the same year. Matilda's family had moved from Heanor to Nottingham by 1891 when they were living on Forster Street, Radford.
Arthur and Matilda were married at Hyson Green St Paul in October 1892 and had two children, Walter b. 1893 and Arthur b. 1897. Both sons were baptised at Hyson Green St Stephen on 11 July 1900.
The family was living at 18 Speechley Street, Hyson Green, in 1900 and recorded at the same address on the 1901 Census. However, by 1911 the family had moved to 15 Kirkstead Street, Hyson Green: Arthur, a lace maker, Matilda, Walter, a tailor, and Arthur who was still at school.
Matilda died in 1919 (burial 17 May) and in 1921 her husband was living on Berridge Road, Radford, where he was a boarder in the household of William and Sarah Bullworthy. Arthur was still living with the couple at the time of his death on 9 December 1925 (buried Basford Cemetery, 12 December).
Walter Geary enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 15th Battalion Sherwood Foresters.
He was killed in action on 30 May 1916 during a raid which was preceded by heavy shelling and is buried in St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, France (grave ref: III J 7).
History of St Vaast Post Military Cemetery (extract): The cemetery is in the village of Richebourg-L'Avoue, about 9km from the town of Bethune. 'The village was held by British forces from the autumn of 1914 until it was overrun by German units advancing west during the great Spring Offensive in April 1918. It was recaptured by Commonwealth soldiers in September 1918 and remained in Allied hands until the end of the war. The village was less than two kilometres from the front-lines trenches and was routinely shelled by German artillery.' (www.cwgc.org)
Walter's younger brother, Arthur, served with the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (243045 Private) and was killed in action on 29 September 1918. He is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery, France. (See record on this Roll of Honour.)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In memoriam', 30th May 1917:
'GEARY. – In loving memory of our dear son Walter, killed in action May 30th, 1916. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – From his loving mother, father, and brother (in France).'
'GEARY. – In loving memory of Walter, killed in action May 30th, 1916. Always in our thoughts. – Kitty and family'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Walter’s father was his legatee.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 10 December 1925: ‘Geary. On December 9th, at 386 Berridge-road, Arthur Geary, after a short illness aged 60.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 11 December 1925: ‘At 386 Berridge-road, December 9th, Arthur, my dearly loved son. Funeral Basford Cemetery, Saturday, 10.30. Loving mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Courtesy of Lynne Weston
Walter Geary
Photo of Walter Geary
St Vaast Post Military Cemetery (www.cwgc.org)