William Henry Longdon
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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William Henry Longdon was the son of William Longdon and Charlotte Chamberlain who married in the Radford registration district in 1878. Their children included: William Henry (b.1879), Ethel (b.1883), Lewis Harry (b.1885), Ada Leonora (b.1886) and Elsie (b.1890). The Longdon family lived at: 14 Bentinck Road, Hyson Green [C.1881]; 48 Maples Street, Radford [C.1891]; 4 Ireton Cottages, Ireton Street, All Saint’s Parish, Nottingham [C.1901]. Sometime after 1901 William Henry’s parents moved to the capital city as Charlotte Longdon died in the Lambeth area of London, aged 46, in 1903. William Longdon then married Christina McCabe at Camberwell in 1905. He and his new wife, along with his two youngest children, could be found in 1911 living back in Nottingham at 101a Derby Road, Nottingham. William Longdon had originally been a joiner but by 1911 he had metamorphosed into an electrical engineer working for himself. He died at Nottingham, aged 68, in 1926. In 1905 William Henry Longdon married Alice Wilson at Nottingham. In 1911 the couple were living at 4 Coleridge Road, Radford. They don’t appear to have had any children. When reporting his death the local newspaper gave Private W.H. Longden’s address as 4 Coleridge Street, Radford [n.e.p.28.5.1917]. What subsequently happened to his widow is unclear.
He enlisted at Nottingham; initially served with East Yorkshire Regiment [Service No.76834]; hit by a shell while in action; buried at Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, Pas de Calais, France.
Article published 12th May 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- NOTTM. LIBRARIAN KILLED. “Information has just been received of the death of Private W. H. Longdon, for over 20 years on the Nottingham Public Libraries' staff. Notification was sent by the O.C. Of the Lincoln Labour Regiment (to which he was latterly attached) to his wife. He was killed by a shell at the back of the lines in France, and his death was instantaneous. “Mr. Longdon had only been in the army a few months, and sailed for France just over a month ago. He was librarian-in-charge of the Hyson Green branch lending library for many years.” In memoriam published 3rd May 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “LONGDON. – In loving memory of Pte. W. H. Longdon, late of Hyson Green Library, killed in France May 3rd, 1917. Ever in our thoughts. – From wife, [Alice] sister-in-law, and nieces.” Above items are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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