William Vincent Barlow
1901 - lace warehouseman
1911 - assistant in his mother's off-licence
1915 - grocer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William Vincent was the son of William and Elizabeth Barlow (née Williams).
His father William was born in about 1858 in Bury, Lancashire, and his mother Elizabeth Williams was born in Nottingham in about 1850. They were married in 1870 (reg. Nottingham) and had two children, Elizabeth Mary b. 22 July 1875, bap. St Barnabus RC cathedral 26 September 1893 (parents William and Elizbeth née Williams), and William Vincent b. 23 August 1893.
In 1891 William, a shop and beer off-licence proprietor, and his wife were living at 28/30 Thoresby Street, Sneinton, with their two children, Elizabeth (15), no occupation, and William (7) who was at school.
William snr. died on 6 June 1900 age 53.
His widow Elizabeth was still living at 28 Thoresby Street, in 1901; she was a shopkeeper/grocer, her daughter was a grocer's assistant and her son a lace warehouseman. Also in the home on the night of the census was Elizabeth's niece, Charlotte Williams (9 b. Pimlico, London).
William's sister Elizabeth married Robert George Clarke in 1903 (AMJ) and had a son William, birth registered 1906 (JFM). In 1911 Robert (28), a general labourer, and Elizabeth were living at 10a Beauchamp Street, Nottingham.
William Vincent (19), a warehouseman, married Gertrude Nellie Rice (b. 22 February 1884) at Sneinton St Stephen on 24 December 1903; both were living at 30 Thoresby Street. They had two daughters, Phyllis Nellie b. 1907 (AMJ) bap. St Stephen 23 January 1908 d. 1908 (JFM) and Florence Elizabeth Hilda b. 28 December 1911.
In 1911 William and Nellie were living at 5 Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton, with his mother, a beer off-licence keeper; both William and his wife were assisting in the business. Also in the household was Elizabeth's grandson, William Clarke (5). William and Gertrude's daughter Florence was born at the end of the year.
Elizabeth (Barlow) died on 12 November 1913 aged 64 and was buried with her husband in Nottingham General Cemetery.
William and Gertrude were still living at 5 Upper Eldon Street when he enlisted in 1915.
William's widow Gertrude completed Army Form W5080 in October 1919 giving the names of her late husband's surviving blood relatives. She and their daughter Florence were both living at 12 Haydn Avenue, Sherwood, Nottingham, and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Clarke (43), was living at 6 Cross Street, Nottingham.
William's sister, Elizabeth Clarke, has not yet been traced after 1919 nor her son William Clarke after 1911.
Gertrude and her daughter Florence were still living at 12 Haydn Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, in 1921.
Florence married Frank Burrows (b. 1912) in 1934 (AMJ Basford) and they probably had two daughters, Glenice b. 1936 (AMJ) and Barbara b. 1939 (OND); both registered Basford, (mother's maiden name Barlow).
Gertrude Nellie Barlow died in 1936 (AMJ) aged 50.
Frank Barlow, occupation pianist, piano tuner & tutor and also an ambulance driver (ARP), and his wife Florence were living in Basford in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled (29 September). The record of one other member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their daughter Glenice; her sister Barbara was not born until later that year.
Florence died in January 1984 and Frank in July 2010; both deaths were registered in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
William Vincent Barlow enlisted on 22 April 1915 at Nottingham. Age 31y 8m, occupation grocer, home address 5 Upper Eldon Street, Sneinton, Nottingham.
He joined on 17 May 1915 and was posted initially to the MT, ASC (M2.076385) but then to the 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.
Service record: Home 22 April 1915-19 December 1915. BEF (338 Coy) 10 December 1915-4 June 1916. Home 5 (sic) June 1916-20 August 1916 (48 Sec, HAMT, 21 August 1916). It is likely that he was sent to the UK in 1916 for examination for defective eyesight at 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, 4 (sic) June 1916-10 June 1916.
His Army surviving record, which is incomplete, does not have identifiable information about his home/overseas service after this period but it can be assumed that after hospital treatment he served with BEF France until his death in November 1918 although he may have been granted short periods of home leave.
William died from pneumonia following influenza on 20 November 1918 and was buried in Solesmes British Cemetery, France (grave ref. I.C.10). Given the history of the Cemetery, William may have been admitted to either the 4th or 34th Casualty Clearing Station when he was taken ill.
CWGC history of Solesmes British Cemetery (extract): the town of Solesmes is about 18km from Cambrai. 'The 2nd South Lancashires and the 1st Wiltshires (rearguard units of the 7th Brigade, 3rd Division) were attacked at Solesmes on the evening of 25 August 1914, as the British Expeditionary Force retreated from Mons. On 19-21 October 1918, the 62nd (West Riding) Division, followed by the 61st (South Midland) Division, captured and cleared the town after severe fighting in the streets. Solesmes British Cemetery was begun by the 4th and 34th Casualty Clearing Stations in November 1918 and used by them until March 1919.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham General Cemetery. Family grave, headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of William Barlow who died June 6th 1900 aged 53. Thy will be done. Also Elizabeth his wife who died November 12th 1913 aged 64 years. Also of William Vincent Barlow (-) son of the above and dearly loved husband of Gertrude Nellie Barlow, died November 20th 1918 of pneumonia in France aged 35 years. He gave his life for his country.'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 28 November 1918: ‘Barlow. On the 20th inst., in France, Private William Vincent Barlow, the dear nephew of Mr and Mrs Huskinson, Russell-road. Dearly loved and sadly missed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Note: Thirteen Great War casualties, including William, were listed in the ROH published in the Nottingham Evening Post on 28 November 1918, all but three, who were killed in action, died after the Armistice on 11 November. Seven died from pneumonia/influenza, France-5, East Africa-1, UK-1. Fever, Mesopotamia-1. KIA France 4 November 1918 -2. Missing France 21 March 1918 now KIA-1. Cause not known, UK-2 (1-at home, 1-military hospital).
William's widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 8 pence a week, payable from week commencing 2 June 1919.
Research Peter Gillings. Additional research/record updated, RF (Sept. 2026)
Photo of William Vincent Barlow
Solesmes British Cemetery, France (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of William Vincent Barlow
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (6 August 2026)