William Wagstaff
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was born in 1892 the son of William and Eliza Wagstaff (nee Taylor). Eliza (35), a spinster, and William (42) a bachelor, were married in the parish church of Elsfield, Oxfordshire, on 7 August 1886. William's profession was given as 'pensioner'. William was born in Nottingham in 1845, the son of Joseph Wagstaff. Eliza Taylor was born in Elsfield, Oxfordshire, in 1851, the daughter of James Taylor. Eliza had a son, Charles Taylor, who was born in Elsfield in 1882. According to the 1911 Census William and Eliza had been married for 24 years and had had four children all of whom were still living at the time of the census. Three children, who would have been born after their marriage, Mary Ann (b. 1888), Harry (b. 1890) and William (b. 1892), were living with their parents at the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census. Charles, who was also living at home in 1901, was named on that census as Charles Taylor and described as William's stepson. However, by 1911 when Charles had married and left home, he completed the census as head of household in the name of Charles Wagstaff. There is therefore the possibility that Charles, even if not William's son born before their marriage, was later considered by William and Eliza to be the eldest of their children. William and Eliza have not yet been traced on the 1891 Census, but their only daughter, Mary, had been born in Nottingham three years earlier. In 1901 the family was living at 8 Calcutta Street, St Ann's, Nottingham. William was employed as a commissionaire. Their daughter Mary was a hosiery hand while her younger brothers, Harry and William, were still at school. Charles (19) was a labourer. By 1911 William, a pensioner, and Eliza Wagstaff were living at 19 Paxton Street, Gordon Road, Nottingham. Also in the home on the night of the census were Mary a jennier in the lace trade, Harry a threader, also in the lace trade, and William who was a cycle enameller. Charles had married Margaret White in 1905 (the registration of their marriage gave his name as Charles Taylor Wagstaff). In 1911, Charles, a brass bobbin maker, and his wife, a cardboard box maker (box manufacturer), were living at 25 Bombay Street, St Ann's Well Road, Nottingham, with their sons Thomas and Lawrence; another child had died in infancy. They later had another three children, one of whom died young. Charles also died in the war. (See 'Extra information') William's parents were still living at 19 Paxton Road, Gordon Road, Nottingham, when their son William was killed in 1915 and this was also given as their address on the later CWGC record.
2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) He served in France from 4 November 1914 which suggests that he had served in the Territorial Force before the outbreak of war. He died of wounds on 26 October 1915; the notice of his death in the local paper says that he was killed by a sniper. He is buried in Hop Store Cemetery, Belgium (Plot I. Row D. Grave 29). William qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Hop Store Cemetery (extract): Hop Store Cemetery is 5.5km west of Ieper [Ypres]. 'Although Vlamertinghe (now Vlamertinge) was just within range of the German artillery for the greater part of the First World War, units of Allied heavy artillery and field ambulances occasionally stationed their headquarters there. The Hop Store Cemetery, opened in May 1915, was on the safer side of the village but it remained a small cemetery because of its position between a hedge and the premises of the hop store itself. The site was low and marshy, particularly at the west end, and was drained by the Royal Engineers early in 1917.' (www.cwgc.org)
William's half-brother, Charles Taylor Wagstaff (also Charles Taylor), served with the 15th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and died of wounds on 15 September 1917. He is buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Wm. and E. Wagstaff, of 19, Paxton St., Gordon Road, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour,' 13 November 1915: 'Wagstaff. Killed by sniper October 26th, Private William Wagstaff, 2nd Sherwood Foresters, aged 23. Youngest son of William and Eliza Wagstaff, 19 Paxton Street.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 26 October 1916: ‘Wagstaff. In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private William Wagstaff, Sherwood Foresters, killed in France, October 26th 1915. A day of remembrance sad to recall. From his father, mother, sister, and brothers; also Maggie and Harold.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Also 'In Memoriam' notice, Nottingham Evening Post, 26 October 1917 from father, mother, sister and brothers. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother, Eliza, was his sole legatee.
