Harry Vincent Gilbert

Harry Vincent was the eldest son of James Osman and Lavina Gilbert (née Grundy). He father James was born in Nottingham in 1863 and his mother Lavina in 1861, also in Nottingham. They were married at Sneinton St Luke in August 1884 and had six children, one of whom died in infancy and a second in childhood. All the children were born in Nottingham: Harry Vincent b. 1885, Ellen Lydia birth registered 1887 (J/F/M), James Frederick b. 1888 d. 1888, Grace b. 1889, Sarah Annie (Annie) birth registered 1892 (J/F/M) d. 1902 (A/M/J) and Walter b. 1894. All six children were baptised at Sneinton St Luke, Harry on 28 June 1885. As shown by their addresses when the children were baptised, James and Lavina moved home frequently in the early years of their marriage: 1885 Ford Street, 1887 Storer Street, 1889 Stewart Place and still at Stewart Place at the time of the 1891 Census, 1892 Flewitt Place and 1894 Hawkridge Street. By 1901 James, warehouseman (hosiery) and his wife were living at 56 Lees Hill Street, Sneinton, with their five surviving children, Harry a warehouseman (fancy drapery), Ellen, Grace, Annie and Walter. Sarah Annie died aged 10 the following year. In 1911 the family was living at 25 Sneinton Boulevard. Only three of the four children were living at home: Ellen a clerk, Grace a hosiery mender and Walter an apprentice (hosiery). Harry, a draper's salesman, was one of four boarders at Moscow Road, Bayswater, London, the home of Thomas and Annie Parkinson. Harry Vincent married Florence May Brooks (b. 30th May 1886) in 1912 (reg. A/M/J Lewisham London) and had three children, James Harry b. 1913, Peggy Gertrude b. 1914 and Grace Annie b. 1916. They lived at 62 Cottingham Road, Nottingham. His widow was awarded a pension of 26 shillings and 9 pence a week commencing 31st December 1917; at this time she was living at 78 Goddard Avenue, Newland Avenue, Hull. However, it is likely that she and the children later returned to Nottingham. Harry's parents were living at 96 Sneinton Dale when he was killed in May 1917. Lavina died at home six months later on 18 November. Her husband died on 20 June 1940; he was still living at 96 Sneinton Dale. Harry's brother Walter also served in the war. He attested on 30 August 1916 at the age of 22 years 73 days, but was not mobilised until 11 January 1917. He was posted to the Sherwood Foresters (69929 Private) at the Derby Depot, but in the April was transferred to the 2/5th Yorkshire Regiment. However, by November 1917 Walter was serving with the Army Service Corps (3/383105 Private), which may have reflected his civilian occupation of clerk/warehouseman. He was discharged to Class 'Z' Army Reserve on 11 October 1919 (Woolwich Dockyard); it is unlikely that he served overseas. Walter was living in West Bridgford, Nottingham, when he enlisted. He married Ethel May Fincham at West Bridgford, Nottingham, in June 1919 and gave his address on discharge as Melton Grove, West Bridgford. Harry's sister Ellen Lydia married Sydney Holmes Pomeroy (b. 1884) at Sneinton St Luke in July 1915 and they lived on Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. Sydney attested on 9 December 1915, transferred to the Army Reserve the following day and was not moblised until 5 September 1916. He served in the Army Service Corps (234432) - his civilian occupation had been manager of a branch newspaper office. He served with the BEF France from 18 November 1916 until 13 November 1919 then returned to the UK where he was discharged on 12 December.