Herbert Wildgust

Herbert Wildgust was born in 1886 at Bulwell and was the son of Walter and Maria Wildgust (née Marlow). His father Walter was born in 1860 at Basford and his mother Maria Marlow was born in Bulwell in 1864. They were married at Bulwell St Mary the Virgin & All Souls in 1883. They went on to have seven children, sadly four were to die in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were: Herbert b. 1886, John Henry and Harold b. abt. 1895 who were all were born in Bulwell. One of the children who died in infancy was Florence Elizabeth who was born in 1890 (O/N/D) and died the same year. In both 1891 and 1901 Walter and his family were living with his widowed mother-in-law, Alice Marlow. They were at Bradford Street, Bulwell, in 1891 and 106 Coventry Road, Bulwell, in 1901. In 1891 Walter was a colliery banksman and Maria was working as a hosiery chevoner but by 1901 Walter was employed as a caretaker and rural postman. In the 1911 census the family was living at 109 Coventry Road, Bulwell, and shown as Walter 50 yrs a chapel caretaker, Maria 46 yrs and their sons John Henry 22 yrs a coal miner hewer and Harold 16 yrs a hosiery bleacher. Herbert had married Nellie Richardson (b. 1886) in 1906 at Nottingham. They went on to have the following children: Frank Norman born 1908 who died in 1911 aged 3 yrs, Alice Hilda, Edna Clara and Mary Elizabeth. In the 1911 census the family lived at 10 China Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, and shown as Herbert 24 yrs a coal miner hewer, Nellie 24 yrs and their children, Frank 3 yrs and Hilda 1 year of age. Following his death his widow Nellie was awarded a pension of 26 shillings and 3 pence a week for herself and her three children which commenced on 26th November 1917 His widow remarried in 1920 at Nottingham to James Streets and they lived at 210 Commercial Road, Bulwell. Nellie died in 1975. Herbert's brother Harold served in the army and died of wounds in 1918 (see record on this Roll of Honour). Their parents Walter and Maria were still living at 109 Coventry Road, Bulwell, in 1939; Walter had retired as a church caretaker. They continued to live at the same address until their deaths; Walter in 1940 and Maria in 1945.