William Garton
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- Military History
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William was born in 1893 and was the son of the son of William Henry Garton a confectionary traveller and Amelia Rebecca Garton née Whate , of Brighton House, Robin Hood Chase, Nottingham. His father William Henry was born in 1864 in Nottingham and his mother Amelia Rebecca Whate was born in 1865 in Sutton on Trent , Nottinghamshire, they were married in 1892 in Rochdale Lancashire and went on to have 4 children , who were William b 1893 Barton on Humber, Henry b1894 Hull, John b1895 Hull and Arthur b1898 in Doncaster. In the 1911 census his family are living at 35 Albert Grove Lenton and are shown as William Henry 47 yrs married and a confectionary traveller, he is living with his three sons Henry 17 yrs a clerk, John 16 yrs a salesman and Arthur 13 yrs a scholar. His mother in the same census however she can be found as a patient in the Hospital for women , Castle Gate, Nottingham, she is shown as a domestic servant aged 46 yrs. She dies the same year in Nottingham aged 46 yrs. William in the 1911 census has moved out of the family home and is a boarder, living at 113 Sneinton Dale, Nottingham, he is shown as being 18 yrs of age , single and a municipal clerk , he is boarding with Albert Vickers 39 yrs also a municipal clerk and his wife Clara 39 yrs. He married his wife Stella Mary Whitehouse in 1915 in Nottingham, they lived at 11 Claypole Road, Hyson Green, Nottingham,
Private William Garton enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 10th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, he landed in France on 14th July 1915. He was killed in action on 14th February 1916, he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.
The following is an article published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 23rd February 1916 :- “KILLED IN ACTION. “A WELL-KNOWN NOTTINGHAM ENTERTAINER. “The sad news has reached his friends of the death in action on the 14th inst. [February 1916] of Private Will Garton [1], of the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, eldest son of Mr. W. H. Garton of Robin Hood's Chase. Nottingham, and grandson of Mr. W. Garton, the accountant to the Gas Committee, and one of the oldest of the city's civil officials. “Private Garton, who was in his 23rd year, had been in the assessor's office, in the employ of the Water Committee, since he left school at 14, and was greatly respected by his colleagues. On the outbreak of war he joined the Sherwood Foresters, and trained with them. Some six months ago, just before he went out to the front he was married. “The letter which contained the announcement his death, says that it was the result of concussion through the bursting of shell, but that there was not a mark of injury upon him. “From his earliest youth the late Private Garton had been a studious and literary turn of mind, and especially fond of elocution. His musical monologues, Dickens studies, and entertaining work generally gained him a reputation not only throughout Nottingham, but all over the county, and an even wider area. He was, indeed, a frequent contributor to all sorts entertainments, and was esteemed alike for his histrionic gifts, and for personal qualities. He was associated with the Topics, a well-known local band of performers during their successful career, and had been an enthusiastic member of the local branch of the Dickens Fellowship. His three surviving brothers are all in the army, the second with the transport service, and two younger with an Australian unit " The news of his death was published in a number of family notices in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 22nd February 1916 :- “GARTON. – Killed in action, February 14t, Private W. Garton (Will), 10th Sherwood Foresters, the dearly beloved husband of Stella Garton (nee Whitehouse), Claypole Road. “GARTON. – Killed in action, February 14th, Private William Garton (Will), eldest son of William Henry [?] Garton, 45, Robin Hood-chase. “GARTON. – Killed in action, February 14th, Will Garton, 10th Sherwood. - Hen, Jack, and Arthur [illegible] arms. All above newspaper articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. His three brothers mentioned in the newspaper article were : - Pte. Henry Garton, who served in the Army Service Corps. Pte John (Jack) Garton enlisted at Dandenong, Victoria, on 30th September 1914, 5th Battalion A.I.F., wounded some time after the landing at Gallipoli, 25th April 1915, a gunshot wound, causing a depressed fracture of skull, he was admitted to hospital in Alexandria 30th April 1915. He was discharged on 25th April 1916 as permanently unfit for service. Arthur Garton enlisted at Dandenong, Victoria, 14th September 1914, 14th Battalion A.I.F., giving his age as 20 (his age was given as 3 in the 1901 Census). Discharged 21st October 1914 as medically unfit. Re-enlisted 21st November 1914 as a Gunner, 1st Field Artillery Brigade (Ammunition Column). Landed Gallipoli 25th April 1915. Twice wounded, two admissions for enteric before returning to Australia. Above details courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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