Joseph Connelly
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Surname also appears on records from 1862 as: Conolly, Connolley, Connlley and Conley Joseph was the son of John Connelly and Sarah nee Mellors. John Connelly was born in Nottingham, probably in 1862 (A/M/J Nottingham, Conolly); he had at least one brother, Andrew. Their mother was probably Catharine/Catherine Connolly who may have been widowed and then married Samuel Cook in 1871 (A/M/J Basford). In 1881 Andrew (30) and John (20), both bricklayer's labourers, were living at 40 Lees Hill Street, Sneinton, with Samuel Cook (70) and Catharine Cook (55), both hawkers, and described as Samuel's 'sons-in-law' (probably stepsons). Sarah Mellors was born in Mansfield, probably in 1869 (J/A/S Mansfield). In 1881 she was living at 9 Meeting House Lane, Mansfield, with her widowed mother, Alice (36), a laundress, and her brother, Samuel (3). According to the 1911 Census completed by John Connelly, he and Sarah had been married for 25 years and had had nine children of whom only eight were still living. However, the only marriage record that has been traced for a John Connelly and Sarah Mellors is in 1914 (J/A/S Nottingham). The census returns between 1891 and 1911 record six children: Andrew b. 27 July 1887, Catherine (Kate), John, Joseph, Samuel b. 13 March 1899 and William probably b. 1904 (A/M/J Nottingham. Andrew and Samuel's dates of birth have been taken from the 1939 England & Wales Register but birth registrations have not yet been traced for the other three children (Catherine, John and Joseph) under 'Mellors' or any variation of 'Connelly'. In 1891 John (29) a slater, and Sarah, were living in Nottingham with their children Andrew (3) and Catherine (1). Also in the household was Sarah's brother, Samuel (13). The family had moved to 16 Taylor Street, Nottingham, by 1901. John (38) was now working as a labourer and Sarah (32) was a lace hand. Also in the household were their children, Andrew (13) a collier, Catherine (11), John (8), Joseph (6) and William (1), and Samuel Mellorsn (23) a general labourer with Nottingham Corporation. John, a bricklayer's labourer and Sarah, a lace hand, were still living at 16 Taylor Street in 1911. Only four of their children, Kate (21) a lace curtain dresser, Joseph (16) a railway labourer, Samuel (11) and William (6), were in the home on the night of the census. His sister Catherine married Richard Lee in 1913 (J/A/S Nottingham). Joseph married Sarah Annie Smith in 1916 (A/M/J Nottingham). No record has been found of any children of the marriage. Sarah appears to have married secondly William H Watts in 1923 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1939 they were recorded living at 92 Kirkewhite Street, Meadows. William (b. 11 April 1885) was a general labourer. They probably had five children: Arthur Watts b. 13 May 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham-Smith), Louisa A Watts b. 8 October 1923 (O/N/D Nottingham-Smith), George Watts b. 21 March 1926 (A/M/J Nottingham-Smith), Edith Watts b. 1928 (J/A/S Nottingham-Connelly) and Iris Watts b. 27 March 1931 (A/M/J Nottingham-Connelly). However, only Arthur, 'Nancy' (Louisa A), George and Iris were in the home at the time the Register was compiled. Joseph's brother Andrew, also served in the war; according to notices of Joseph's death in the local paper he served in Germany and Holland. He cannot be identified from extant military records. He married Leah Birch (b. 26 February 1891, d. 4 April 1978) in 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham) and in 1939 they were living at 2 Sullivan Street, Nottingham. Andrew probably died in 1959 (J/F/M Nottingham). His brother Samuel also served. He attested on 15 March 1918 aged 18, giving his address as Elgin Street, Nottingham, and appears to have served in the Dublin Fusiliers (7621 Private). He had a chequered army career and was probably demobilized on 2 December 1919 to 16 Elgin Street. In 1939 he was working as a sawyer and recorded living at Sneinton House Hostel, Boston Street, Nottingham. He probably died in 1966 (J/F/M Nottingham).
Private Joseph Connelly (sic) enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 10th battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. Joseph was posted missing in action on 28th April 1917. One military record indicates that his death was presumed to be 1 May 1917, but it seems that his family was advised in December 1917 that he had died while a prisoner of war (notice Nottingham Evening Post, 14 December). Joseph is buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France, grave reference XIII E 1 . The cemetery takes its name from a small cafe, Cabaret Rouge, a brick building with red tiles in an area where most houses were thatched; it was situated less than a mile from the village of Souchez and was destroyed by heavy shelling in May 1915.
Surname appears on records from 1862 as: Conolly, Connolley, Connlley and Conley Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Presumed to have died between 28 April 1917 and 1 May 1917. Legatee widow, Sarah Annie Connelly. WW1 Pension Ledgers: DOD 28 April 1917. Widow Sarah Annie Connelly. Nottingham Evening Post 14th December 1917 :- “CONNELLY. – Missing since April 28th, now officially reported died while a prisoner of war, May 1st, 1917, Pte. J. Connelly (Lincolns), 16, Taylor-street, aged 22. Sleep on, dear one, in a heroe's [sic] grave, a grave we may never see, but as long as life and memory lasts, we will remember thee. – From his broken-hearted wife, mother, father, sister, and brothers (Andrew in Germany).” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 May 1918: ‘Connelly. In loving memory of Pte. J Connelly, Lincolns, died as prisoner of war in Germany, May 1st, 1917. A loving husband, faithful son, one of the best that God could send, he always strove to do his best, God grant him now eternal rest. From his loving wife, mother, father, sister, and brothers Sam (with colours), Andrew (in Holland).’ (wwww.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 1 May 1919: ‘Connelly. In loving memory of Pte. J Connelly, (Lincolns), who died as prisoner of war May 1st, 1917. Dear is the grave where my husband is laid, sweet is the memory that never will fade; ‘tis sad, but ‘tis true, we cannot tell why, the best are the first that are called to die. Sadly missed by loving wife, mother, father, and brothers (Sam with the colours).’ (wwww.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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