Bernard Henry McAvan
1901, 1911 - bobbin and carriage hand (lace machine)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Bernard Henry was the son of Henry and Annie McAvan (née Graves)
His father was born in Market Drayton, Shropshire, and his wife Annie in Radford, Nottingham. They had three children, Beatrice b. 1883, Edith Annie birth registered 1885 (JFM) and Bernard Henry b. 6 April 1887 who was baptised at St Barnabus RC Cathedral, 16 November 1895.
Henry, a mechanic (lace maker), his wife and their three chldren were living at 20 Stanefield Street in 1891 but had moved to 14 Charlton Street by 1901. Henry was following the same occupation as in 1891 but both his wife and daughter Edith were lace menders while Bernard was a carriage hand (lace machine). The eldest daughter, Beatrice, was a waitress and living on Peck Lane, Nottingham, in the household of her employer, Philip Bottrill, a refreshment house keeper, and his wife and family.
Bernard married Mabel Eite at Lenton parish church on 18 April 1908, giving his address as 13 Charlton Street; his sister Beatrice was one of the two witnesses. Bernard and Mabel had two children, Kathleen Mabel b. May 1910 and Albert Bernard (Bernard) b. October 1915. In 1911 they were living at 61 Truman Street, Alfred Street Central, St Ann's. Mabel died at their home on 9 November 1920.
By 1911 Bernard's parents had moved to 102 Rothesay Avenue. Both their daughters were living at home although Edith had married Arthur Eastwood in 1906 (reg. JFM Nottingham) and after 1911 appears to have remained married but permanently separated from her husband.
Beatrice married John Gilbert in 1913 (reg. JFM) but died at her parents' home, 102 Rothesay Avenue, on 27 December 1916. She was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Henry and Annie were still living at 102 Rothesay Avenue in 1921, together with their daughter Edith (Eastwood), an overlooker (lace menders) and two orphaned grandchildren, Kathleen (11) and Bernard (5).
Annie died in 1934 aged 75. Her widowed husband, a retired lace mechanic, and his daughter Edith, a plain net mender, were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at 102 Rothesay Avenue. Henry died in July 1940 (burial 11 July). Edith Eastwood remained in the family home until her death on 2 September 1948.
Bernard and Mabel's daughter, Kathleen Mabel married George M Riches (b. 1906) in 1930 (JFM Spilsby Lincolnshire). In 1939 they were living in Boston; George was a pretort labourer lines commissioning and Kathleen was in the Nursing Auxilliary Service. Also in the household was their son, George Bernard (b. November 1930); the records of two other members of the household remain closed. Kathleen died in Boston on 10 July 1948.
Kathleen's brother Bernard married Florence M Buxton (b. 1916) at Radcliffe-on-Trent St Mary on 27 December 1936. Their daughter Pamela was born in York in 1938 and the family was recorded living in York in 1939; Bernard was a dispensing optician (manager). The family later returned to live in Radcliffe-on-Trent. It seems likely that Bernard served in the RAMC in the war (see 'Extra information'). He died in 1970.
Corporal Bernard Henry McAvan enlisted in Nottingham and served with 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment.
Bernard disembarked France on 3 May 1915. He was initially report missing in action on 1 July 1917; his death on that date was not confirmed until late May 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.
He qualified for the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of the Loos Memorial: the Memorial 'forms the sides and back of Dud Corner Cemetery.' Battle of Loos: 25 September - 13 October 1915. 'Dud Corner Cemetery stands almost on the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the battle. The name 'Dud Corner' is believed to be due to the large number of unexploded enemy shells found in the neighbourhood after the Armistice. The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war.’ (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave and headstone: 'Beatrice Gilbert eldest daughter of Henry & Annie McAvan who died December 27th 1916 aged 33 years. Peace Perfect Peace. Also of Cpl Bernard Henry McAvan, 2nd Sherwood Foresters. Believed killed in France July 1st 1917, aged 30 years. At Rest. Also of Annie, beloved wife of Henry McAvan who died July 8th 1940 age (-) years.'
Prisoners of War: FsN A22295. MACAVAN-sic B. Cpl. 20227. Sherwood Foresters. ‘D’ Coy. Disparu 1/7/197 France. Rep. Mrs McAvan (wife) 63, Truman str., Nottingham England. Négatif envoyé 1.9.17, 16.2.18.
WW1 Pension Ledgers: Mabel McAvan (b. 23 Jan 1885) widow and children Katherine Mabel McAvan (b. 28 May 1910) and Albert Bernard McAvan (b. 4 October 1915), also Clara Wiles guardian, all resident Radcliffe on Trent. Awarded pension 24/2d pw for self and two children.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 28 December 1916. ‘McAvan. On the 27th inst., at 102, Rothesay-avenue, Beatrice Gilbert, the beloved daughter of Henry and Annie McAvan, after a long and painful illness.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Also ‘In Memoriam’ notices 27 December 1917 and 1918 from ‘father, mother and Edith.'
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 & 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. From his loving wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. From his sorrowing father, mother, and sister Edith.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. A brother whom we loved so dear. Mr and Mrs F Eite and Family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. Mr and Mrs A Eite and Family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 & 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. From his loving wife and children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. From his sorrowing father, mother, and sister Edith.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. A brother whom we loved so dear. Mr and Mrs F Eite and Family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 May 1918: ‘McAvan. Reported missing July 1st, 1918, now reported killed on that date, Corpl. Bernard Henry McAvan, Notts and Derbys. Mr and Mrs A Eite and Family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, In Memoriam', 1 July 1918: 'McAvan. In loving memory of Corporal B. H. McAvan, reported killed July 1st, 1917, or since that date. Days of sadness still come o'er us, tears of sorrow often flow, memory keeps our loved one near us, whom God claimed a year ago. – From his loving wife and children.' Courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 July 1919: McAvan HB. Notices from ‘father, mother, and Edie’ and from 'Albert and Lozzie’ [Eite?] to their brother-in-law.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 9 November 1920: McAvan. On November 9th, at 63 Truman-street, Mabel, beloved wife of the late Corporal HB McAvan, aged 35, after a long and painful illness.’ (wwwbritishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) ‘In Memoriam’ notices 9 November 1921 & 1927 from '(children) Kathleen and Bernard’, and 9 November 1921 from ‘Sisters’ and from ‘Pattie, Edith, Clara, Fred and Albert, sisters and brothers’
It is likely that Bernard's son, Albert Bernard (b. 1915) served in the Second World War: Nottingham Evening Post, 27 February 1943: ‘Radcliffe Comforts Fund. The Radcliffe on Grent Services Comforts Fund has received an interesting letter from one of its recipients in Malta. He is Pte. B McAvan, RAMC, and he acknowledges the receipt of parcels sent by the fund in January, March and September of last year. They all reached him in one delivery early in January and he says that the contents of each parcel, comprising razor blades, toilet requisites &c. were in perfect condition – a tribute to the packers and also the postal authorities. ‘It is good to feel that we in Malta are once more in closer touch with civilisation.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 12 July 1948: ‘Riches. On July 10th at the General Hospital, Boston, Kathleen (née McAvan), after short illness.' (ww.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 7 September 1970: ‘ Suddenly on September 5th, Bernard, aged 54 of 1a Thomas Avenue, Radcliffe-on-Trent. Beloved husband of Florrie and dearly loved father of Pam. Funeral Service at Holme Pierrepont Church on Thursday, September 10th, at 10.30 am. Followed by cremation at 11.20. Please no letters, flowers may be sent to …’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Guardian & Nottingham Evening Post, 7 September 1970: ‘Weekend Sportsmen died while playing’ refers to a Lincolnshire golfer and also to Mr Albert Bernard McAvan (54) who for 36 years had been an active playing member of the Radcliffe-on-Trent Cricket Club. On Saturday he bowled his last over, collapsing and dying on the Bestwood cricket pitch … His wife was among the spectators … Mr McAvan, vice-chairman of the Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council and a grandfather … (was) a dispensing optician … had been treasurer of the cricket club for the past six years. He was a member of the Holme Pierrepont Church.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Research RF (Dec. 2025)
Photo of Bernard Henry McAvan
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (7 Dec. 2025)
Photo of Bernard Henry McAvan
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (7 Dec. 2025)
Photo of Bernard Henry McAvan
Family grave/headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Photograph Rachel Farrand (7 Dec. 2025)
Photo of Bernard Henry McAvan
Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (www.cwgc.org)