Robert Wheatley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert was born in 1886 in Sneinton and was the son James a greengrocer and Maria Wheatley née Beddles of 57 Lower Eldon Street, Nottingham. His father James was born in 1845 in Bigggleswade, Bedfordshire and his mother Maria Beddles was born in 1851 in Grantham, they were married in 1872 in Nottingham and went on to have 11 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were, Anne b1872 Nottingham, George b1874 Nottingham, William b1878 Lambley, Mary Ann b1880 Carlton, Joseph b1882 Carlton, James b1884 Carlton, Robert b1886 Nottingham and Ellen b1890 Nottingham Robert married his wife Matilda Holmes at Sneinton Church on 21st December 1907 , they were living at 31 Hutton Street, Nottingham at this time. Robert and Matilda went on to have four children all of whom were born in Sneinton, they were :- Robert William born 13/09/1908 , John born 04/08/1910, Doris Mary born 05/02/1915 and Ivy born 19/06/1916. In the 1911 census , Robert is now 22 years of age and is working as a railway porter and is living at 40 Davidson Street, Colwick Road, Nottingham. Following his death his widow Matilda Wheatley, was living at 24, Westwood Rd., Nottingham and on 8th May 1919 was notified by a letter sent from the Ministry of Pensions informing her that she would receive 33 shillings and 9 pence a week from 19th May 1919 pension for her and her four children.
Robert attested at Nottingham on 9th December 1915 and was placed into the Reserves the following day. At this time his age was given as 28 years and 4months .He was eventually mobilised some considerable time later on 17th June 1918 , he received his medical examination at Nottingham giving his age at this time as 29 years and 316 days, he gave his next of kin as his wife Matilda of 31 Hutton Street, Nottingham. Initially Robert served with the 5th battalion, Sherwood Foresters but on 16th July 1918 he was attached to the 3rd battalion Norfolk Regiment. During his training he was admitted on 22nd October 1918 to Cliff Road, Military Hospital in Felixstowe with a high temperature, he then developed bronchi pneumonia in the right lung and on the 28th he became wildly delirious and eventually went into a coma and died in the hospital on 30th October 1918 the cause being stated as influenza. He had served for 2 years and 326 days , he never served abroad.
Death notice published 4th November 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WHEATLEY. – Died in hospital, Pte. R. Wheatley, aged 30, late of Mid. Goods Shed. Funeral Wednesday, [6th November 1918] 3 p.m., General Cemetery. – From his sorrowing wife & children.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
