Thomas Frederick Nunley
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- Military History
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Thomas Frederick (Fred) was the son of Walter and Selina Nunley (née Stokes). Both his parents were born in Raunds, Northamptonshire. His father Walter, birth registered 1858 (J/F/M Thrapston Northants), was the son of Thomas, an agricultural labourer and Sarah Nunley. His mother Selina was born in about 1863, the daughter of Jane Stokes, and baptised at Raunds parish church on 4 April 1863. Walter and Selina were brought up in Raunds, Selina in the home of her maternal grandparents, John and Frances Stokes. In 1881 Selina (20), a tailoress, was still living with her grandparents at Lilleys Row, Raunds, and also in the household was Walter Nunley (23), tailor, who was recorded as a boarder. Walter and Selina were married in Irchester parish church on 20 May 1881 (A/M/J Wellingborough) and had six children: Edith b. Bedfordshire 14 November 1881 bap. Market Deeping Lincs 4 November 1883; Florence Rhoda b. Market Deeping 1883 (Bourne Lincs), bap. Market Deeping 4 November 1883; George Walter [Walter] b. Bowman Lincs 6 April 1885, bap.Thurlby 9 September 1888; Thomas Frederick b. Thurlby Lincs 1886 (O/N/D Bourne); Arthur b. Thurlby 31 October 1887 bap. Thurlby 12 January 1888 (re-baptised Thurlby 9 September 1888) and Cyril b. Thurlby 14 July 1889 (J/A/S Bourne) By 1891 having lived in Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, Walter and Selina were living in Bulwell, Nottingham, with their six children who were all under ten years old. However, by 1901 the family was living at 40 Fowler Street, Derby. Walter (43) was a tailor, Edith (20) a button hole machinst, Florence (18) a loop hole machinst, Walter (16) a hotel 'Boots', Frederick (15) a grocer's assistant, Arthur (14) a bottler (wine merchant); Cyril (12) was still at school. Also in the household was a boarder, Benjamin Webster (16), who was a railway labourer. Walter and Selina had returned to Nottingham by 1904 when Thomas attested in the Militia, naming his parents of 116 St Anns Well Road as his next of kin. By 1911 Walter and Selina were recorded at 6 Great Freeman Street but only four of their children were in the home on the night of the census: their married daughter Edith Birch (m. James Birch 1908 J/F/M Nottingham) a hosiery machinist, Florence a hosiery finisher, Arthur a labourer and Cyril a tailor. Also in the household was a boarder, Jane Challand (37) a hosiery maker. Neither George Walter nor Thomas Frederick have yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Thomas Frederick married Ethel May Smith on 9 May 1914 (A/M/J York). They had three children: Frederick Walter b. York 24 April 1914, Cyril b. Nottingham 25 July 1915 and Laura Mary (May) b. Nottingham 14 November 1918. According to Nunley's military record Ethel lived at 1 Every Place Mount Street, Nottingham, at the time of their marriage. The family home was at 14 Wellington Terrace, Woodborough Road, Nottingham, when Thomas died in 1918. Thomas' father died in January 1921, burial 29 January, and his mother died in July 1934, burial 10 July. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Thomas' widow Ethel was living at 68 Northumberland Street, Nottingham, with her three children: Frederick a dairyman, Cyril a textile worker and Laura a machinist. Ethel died on 19 October 1967. Her sons Frederick died in 1975 and Cyril on 8 April 1972. Her daughter Laura married Gerald W Chapman in 1946 (J/A/S Basford) and died on 15 January 2001.
WW1: Army Service Corps attached 75th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps Thomas Frederick Nunley served pre-war with 4th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Militia). He attested initially on 5 September 1904 but his application was unsuccesfull and he was discharged the following day. However, his second application later that month was successful and he attested on 20 September 1904. The following year on 17 February 1905 Thomas attested in the regular army, 2 years with the Colours and ten years with the Reserve. It is likely that on 17 February 1907 he transferred for a further period with the Colours but reverted to the Reserve on 17 February 1908. Thomas was mobilized at Bradford on 10 November 1914 and served as follows: Home 10 November 1914 to 22 December 1914 (9y 309d inc. prev. service); Overseas 23 Decembr 1914-17 February 1918 (3y 57d); Furlough (UK) from Overseas, 18 February 1918-18 March 1918 (28 days RA). Exp. Force France, 19 March 1918-19 November 1918. Thomas died of broncho-pneumonia at the 12th Casualty Clearing Station, France, on 19th November 1918, five days after the birth of his daughter Laura Mary and eight days after the Armistice. He was buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave reference VIII.C.17). Thomas qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC: no family details are recorded on the record. Thomas' brother, George Walter, served with the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways & Dock companies (WR/350130 Corporal). He enlisted on 2 March 1916 and was called up on 31 May 1917. He was then living at 56 Union Street, Nottingham, and named his parents, of the same address, as his next of kin. He served for two years: Home 31 May 1917-8 May 1918; EEF [Egypt] 9 May 1918-18 March 1919; Home 19 March 1919-6 June 1919. He was discharged on 6 June as no longer physically fit for war service (Silver Badge No. B229523). He had married a widow, Agnes Hurd, in Mansfield on 25 December 1917 (two children, Agnes Nunley Hurd b. 5 July 1916 and Norah Kathleen Nunley b. 6 July 1918) and was discharged to their home on Brownlow Road, Mansfield. Nottingham Evening Post,’Roll of Honour’, 26 November 1918: ‘Nunley. Died of pneumonia, in France, November 18th, Driver Thomas Frederick Nunley, aged 32, the dearly beloved husband of Ethel Nunley, 14 Wellington-terrace, Woodborough-road, after four years & three months active service. O Lord, I cannot Thy purpose see why the best are the first who are called to die. Shattered hopes. From heart-broken wife, little sons [Frederick & Cyril], and baby [Laura Mary].’ (www.britishnewpaperarchive.co.uk) Thomas' family also placed two notices in the same edition of the Nottingham Evening Post. 'In Memoriam', Nottingham Evening Post, 18th November 1919:- “NUNLEY. — In affectionate remembrance of Driver Thomas Frederick Nunley (Fred), the dearly beloved husband of Ethel Nunley, who died in France, November 18th, 1918, and buried at Le Cateau. One year passed, I shall ever remember the blow. Cherished memories. So sadly missed by his loving wife, sonnies Freddie and Cyril, and baby May. “NUNLEY. — In loving memory of our dear brother Fred, who died in France, November 18th, 1918. There is a link death cannot sever, love and remembrance they live for ever. From his loving sister Edith [Birch], brother-in-law, Jim, and nephew Kenneth, Mrs. J. Birch, 2 Clausentum-road, Bevols Mount, Southampton. “NUNLEY. — In loving remembrance of our dear brother, Thomas Frederick Nunley, who died of pneumonia in France, November 18th, 1918. His memory is as dear today as in the hour he passed away. None but aching hearts can know, the unknown grave is the bitterest blow. Ever in our thoughts. — From Edith and Jim, 2 Clausentum-road, Southampton. “NUNLEY. — In remembrance of our dear brother Fred. Some day we shall clasp his hand, and then we shall understand. — From his loving brothers Walter, Arthur, Cyril, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. “NUNLEY. — In loving memory of our dear Fred, who died in France November 18th, 1918. It is just a year ago to-day, some may think we have forgotten when at times they se us smile, but they never know the sorrow, that smile hides all the time. They miss him most who loved him best. — From mother, father, and sister Flo.” Above notices courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: legatee wife, Ethel May Nunley WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: Dependants: wife Ethel May (b. 27 July 1891) and children Frederick Walter (b. 24 April 1914), Cyril Thomas (b. 25 July 1915) and Laura Mary (b. 14 November 1918.
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