Basil Gretton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Basil was born on 24th January 1899 in Arnold and was the son of William a frame work knitter and Harriet Gretton nee Rose, they lived at 63 High Street, Arnold. His father William was born in 1872 in Sheffield. his mother Harriett Rose was born in 1873 in Old Basford, they were married in 1892 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District. They went on to have 6 children , 1 sadly died in infancy prior to 1911, their surviving children were all born in Arnold and were Clara b1892, Leonard b1895, Annie b1896, Basil b1899 and May b1902. In the 1911 census the family are shown living on High Street, Arnold and are shown as William 39 yrs a frame work knitter, he is living with his wife Harriett 38 yrs and their children Clara 19 yrs a hosiery mender, Annie 16 yrs a laundry packer, Leonard 14 yrs a pit bank lad, Basil 12 yrs a scholar and May 9 yrs a scholar.
Private Basil Gretton enlisted on 19th April 1915 at Nottingham into the 7th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, his age is given as 19 yrs 3 months (he was born in 1899 and therefore must have been only 16 yrs of age) he is 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall and has a chest size of 33 inches. He is living at 63 High Street Arnold and gives his father William as next of kin. He certainly had a very varied life in the Army for he initially enlisted in the early part of the war into The Sherwood Foresters with number 4681. He was discharged from the Sherwood Foresters on 25th July 1916 and transferred into the Machine Gun Corps with number 44691 however only served for 14 days with this unit. For some reason he next transferred into the Army Cyclist Corps with new number 17330 and finally he again transferred, this time into the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) with regimental number 271242. He embarked from Felixstowe on 20th August 1916 arriving the same day at Boulogne. On the 16th October 1916 , his true age being discovered he was returned to Home Establishment at England. Once of full age he returned to the Western Front and was killed in action on 16th May 1918 whilst serving with the 13th battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) and is buried in the Rolincourt Military cemetery,
In memoriam published 16th May 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “GRETTON. – In loving memory of Pte. Basil Gretton, 13th Royal Scots, killed in action May 16th, 1918, aged 19. Fondly remembered. – From mother, father, brothers, and sisters.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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