Digby Vernon Bignall
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Vernon Digby Bignall was the son of Samuel Bignall and Charlotte Wooley, who married at Nottingham in 1874. There were six children recorded in 1911; Annie Gertrude, born in 1877, Mabel Woolley, born in 1880, Lottie, born in 1882, Harold, born in 1885, Vernon Digby, born in 1887 and Leonard Cecil, born in 1889. All the children were born in Nottingham. Their father was a lace worker who died in 1897, and his widow also was a lace worker. She died in 1920. The family lived at 44 Radford Road, Hyson Green, 110 Hartley Road, Old Radford and finally Myrtle Avenue, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham. Vernon Digby Bignall lived with Agnes Bignall, who was born in 1889 at Stafford, but there are no records confirming that they ever married. His two brothers, Harold and Leonard Cecil Bignall, both served with the Royal Garrison Artillery and survived the war.
Pe. Bignall, who was either serving in the army or a recalled reservist, was soon in France. The battalion took part in the retreat to the Marne, and then joined in pushing back the German army. They reached the banks of the Aisle on 15/09/1914 and came under heavy shell fire and dug in. The bombardment continued the following day and Pte. Bignall was killed in action. His body was not recovered but his name was commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial.
Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 7 October 1914: 'Bignall. Killed in action September 16th 1914, Pte Vernon Bignall, KOYLI, second son of Charlotte Bignall of Myrtle Avenue, Sherwood Rise.' Nottingham Post notice (abridged), 20 November 1914: 'Private V Bignall KOYLI, 5 Coldham(?) Street, Nottingham, killed in action.' In memoriam published 16th September 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BIGNALL. – In loving memory of Private Vernon Bignall, K.O.Y.L.I., killed in action September 16th, 1914. – Mother, sisters in Africa, Harold (training), Cecil (France). Eternal rest.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
