Gordon McCulloch
Represented Bulwell Corinthians, Player’s Athletic and Bulwell Thursday at football and played cricket with several local clubs. Member of Bulwell Park Golf Club.
- Shopkeeper (general)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Gordon was the son of John Gordon and Margaret Elizabeth McCulloch (née Woodward, b. 1891).
His parents were married in 1914 (JFM Nottingham) and Gordon was born on 5 June 1914.
His father was killed in action on 27 May 1917 while serving with the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards (12957 Lance Sergeant). For more details of his father's family history, see John Gordon McCulloch's record on this Roll of Honour.
In 1921 Gordon and his widowed mother, a part-time yarn maker, were living with her parents, William Thomas Woodward, a miner hewer (Bestwood Colliery), and his wife Alice Ann at 55 Austin Street, Bulwell. Also in the household were Margaret's brothers, Albert (28), a labourer Wrights Railway wagon works, and Job (18) a pony driver and Michael (13) a labourer above ground who worked at Bestwood Colliery, and their sister Annie (no occupation).
Margaret McCulloch married secondly Francis William Lacey in 1924. Her husband was a licensed victualler and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, the couple were at the John Barleycorn, Nuthall Road, Basford. His mother died on 18 November 1951. The Probate record gave her address as 91 Ingram Road, Bulwell; her husband Francis was one of the two executors of her Will.
Margaret's son Gordon had married Nellie Hardy in 1937 and their son, John Gordon, was born on 18 March 1940.
In 1939, the year before the birth of their son, Gordon and Nellie were living at 221 Hucknall Road. Bulwell. Gordon was a shopkeeper (general) and his wife's occupation was given as housewife/telephone operator, she was a sub-postmistress.
Gordon died in Whitby on 15 May 1944 while on war service. His widow married Lewis Hands in 1952 (JAS Nottingham).
His son, John Gordon, married Valerie M Winfield in 1961 and they probably had two children. John Gordon died in 2003.
Gordon McCulloch served in the Royal Artillery, unit: RA 52 AA Dvr T/Reg.
There is an official record that he attested in the RA before the war, and a newspaper report of his death recorded that 'he had been in the Army for about four years, and was an instructor in the Royal Artillery.' However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled he was a shopkeeper and subsequently there was a report in the local paper in April 1940 that he was fined at the Nottingham Summons Court for failing to comply with the lighting restrictions during the black-out. It is likely, therefore, that he was a volunteer reservist who was later mobilised.
He died on war service in Whitby on 13 May 1944 and was buried in Nottingham Northern Cemetery (grave ref. Sec E/22 Grave 13).
CWGC Additional information: Son of John Gordon and Margaret Elizabeth McCulloch, of Bulwell, Nottingham; husband of Nellie McCulloch, of Bulwell.
Gordon's father, John Gordon McCulloch, served with the 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards (12957 Lance Sergeant) and was killed in action on 27 May 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Births’, 19 March 1940: McCulloch. March 18th, to Gordon and Nellie (née Hardy), the gift of a son, John Gordon.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Journal, 16 May 1944: ‘Local Sportsman. Sergt. McCulloch was the son of the late Gordon McCulloch, a professional footballer, who played for Notts. County and Lincoln City, and who was killed while serving with the Grenadier Guards in France in the last war. Sergt. McCulloch was himself well-known in local sporting circles. He formerly played football with the Players Athletic and Bulwell Corinthians, and cricket with the Players Athletic team. He was a member of the Bulwell Park Golf Club.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 16 and 17 May 1944 : ‘McCulloch. May 13th, died suddenly at Whitby, Gordon, dearly beloved husband of Nellie, loving daddy of John Gordon. Interment Northern Cemetery, Thursday, 3pm. Broken-hearted wife.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 20 May 1944: ‘Death of Sergt.McCulloch. Sergt. Gordon McCullock-sic, the son of Mrs Lacey, of the ‘Westdale Tavern’ and the late Sergt. Gordon McCulloch, died suddenly last Saturday while on active service. He was 29 years of age. Sergt. McCullock-sic was born at Bulwell and attended the Cinderhill Schools. He was a keen sportsman, representing Bulwell Corinthians, Player’s Athletic and Bulwell Thursday at football, and also played cricket with several local clubs. Serg. McCulloch married in 1937 Miss Nellie Hardy, daughter of Mr and Mrs C Hardy, of ‘The Grove Hotel’, Daybrook. Mrs McCulloch is sub-postmistress at Hucknall-lane, Bulwell, and there is one son (John Gordon) aged four. The deceased sergeant had been in the Army for about four years, and was an instructor in the Royal Artillery. His step-brother (Mr J Lacey) is in the Royal Horse Guards, and was formerly a member of 1214 (Carlton) Squadron of the ATC. Sergt. McCulloch’s father was killed in action with the Grenadier Guards in 1917.’ (www.britishnwespaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 22 May 1944: ‘Mrs N McCulloch sincerley thanks all relatives, friends and neighbours, for their kindness, letters of sympathy and beautiful floral tributes in her tragic bereavement.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 14 May 1945: ‘McCulloch. Sweetest memories of Gordon, May 13th, 1944. May God forgive a silent tear, and a constant wish that your were here. Always in my heart. Always in my heart darling. Loving wife and son.’
Probate: McCulloch Gordon of 221 Hucknall-lane Bulwell Nottinghamshire died 13 May 1944 on war service Administration Nottingham 14 September to Nellie McCulloch widow. Effects £705 16s.9d.
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