George Harry Blackwell
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George Harry (also known as Harry) was the son of Elijah and Ann Blackwell (née Reynolds). His father was born in Alkley, Buckinghamshire, in 1853, the son of James and Ann Blackwell. His mother was born in Padbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1846. They were married on Christmas Day 1872 at Akeley and had six children: Lucy Ellen b. abt 1875, Alice b. 1877, Herbert b. 1879 and William Arthur (Arthur) b. 1881 who were born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and Ernest birth registered 1884 (J/F/M) and George Harry b. 1885 who were born in Cropwell Butler. In 1881 the family was living at 2 Critchley Street, Ilkeston: Elijah (27) a brickyard labourer, Ann (36), Lucy (5), Alice (3) and Herbert (2). Ann Blackwell died on 2 January 1888 and was buried in Tithby Holy Trinity churchyard. Elijah was recorded at The Lings, Cropwell Butler, on the 1891, 1901 and 1911 Census. In 1891 his second daughter, Alice, was housekeeper for the family; all the children except the eldest, Lucy, were in the home on the night of the census. By 1901 Lucy was housekeeper for her father and the only other child still at home was George, a ploughboy. Herbert was a boarder in Whitwell, Derbyshire, and working as railway porter. Arthur was a farm carter and a boarder in the home of the farm foreman at Chase Farm, Gedling, Nottinghamshire, while Ernest was at Adbolton, Basingfield, Nottinghamshire, a cowman on a farm and a boarder in the home of one of the married farm workers. Alice has not yet been traced on either the 1901 of 1911 census and as she was the only one of her brother George's siblings not to be named one of his legatees may have predeceased him. There is a record of the death of an Alice Blackwell (b. abt. 1877) died 1891 (registered J/A/S Bingham). By 1911 only Arthur and George were living with their father; all three were farm general labourers. Lucy had married George Mee in 1902 and they were living at Rye Hill Cottages, Nottingham; her husband was a railway carman (Midland Railway). Herbert, a railway signalman, had married Susannah Dakin in 1904 and in 1911 they and their son Ernest were living on Manvers Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. Ernest has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Elijah died on 12 March 1916, two months before his son George's death. Elijah was buried with his wife in Holy Trinity churchyard. An 'In memoriam' notice was placed in a local paper in 1917 by George's fiancée, Annis,
No. 1 Depot Royal Field Artillery Driver George Harry Blackwell died from pneumonia at No. 1 Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on 23 May 1916.
Identification confirmed from information about his siblings in the Register of Soldiers' Effects (record in the name of Harry George Blackwell). No CWGC, UKSDGW or Medal Rolls records. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 27 May 1916: ‘Blackwell. On May 23rd at Newcastle-on-Tyne, of pneumonia, Private Harry Blackwell RFA (sic), of Cropwell Butler, aged 30 years.’ (www.british.newspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notices published Nottingham Evening Post, 23rd May 1917:- “BLACKWELL. – In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Harry Blackwell, A.S.C (sic)., Cropwell Butler, who passed away at Newcastle-on-Tyne on May 23rd, 1916. Why do they call it dying, this sweet going away, passing out of these shadows, into eternal day. – Sorrowing sisters and brothers. “BLACKWELL. – In loving memory of Private Harry Blackwell, A.S.C (sic)., Cropwell Butler, who passed away at Newcastle-on-Tyne on May 23rd, 1916. They miss you most who loved you best. – Fiancée Annis.” Above notices courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his three brothers, Herbert, Ernest and William Arthur, and sister Lucy E Mee, were his sole legatees.
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