George Edward Caudwell
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Edward was the son of Edward and Susannah Caudwell (née Noon). He was probably known in the family as Edward. His father Edward was born in North Scarle, Lincolnshire, in 1866 (J/F/M Newark), the son of Robert Caudwell, a collier. In 1881 he was living and working in Lincoln, one of a number of farm servants in the employ of Benjamin Argyle who farmed 320 acres. Susannah - later known as Susan - was born in Danesmoor, Derbyshire, on 21 January 1873 (J/F/M Chesterfield), the daughter of William and Mary Noon (née Bradford). However, by 1891 the family was living in Skegby. Edward, a farm servant living at North Scarle, and Susannah were married on 22 May 1893 at Ault Hucknall, St John the Baptist. Their two witnesses were Susannah's brother and sister, James Noon and Phoebe Noon. According to the 1911 Census, the couple had ten children who were still living at the time of the census. The ten children included Elizabeth Noon (b. Stanton Hill 1891 A/M/J Mansfield), who was born before their marriage, and who was living with Edward and Susan in 1911 and described as their daughter. The record of Elizabeth's baptism at Ault Hucknall on 30 October 1892 named her parents as William Noon, a miner, and Susan Noon of Doe Lea, Derbyshire. The original certificate has not been sighted, but Susan's younger sister, Mary Anna or Hannah (b. 1889 J/A/S Mansfield, mother's maiden name Bradford), was baptised the same day as Elizabeth, and her parents also named as William, a miner, and Susan Noon, suggesting that the name of the father on Elizabeth's baptismal record was either incorrect or it was a transcription error. Edward and Susan's other children were: Mabel b. Doe Lea (parish of Ault Hucknall) 1893 bap Ault Hucknall 21 January 1894; George Edward b. Doe Lea or Sutton Scarsdale 1895 bap. Ault Hucknall 1 September 1895; then four children born in Sutton Scarsdale (parish of Sutton cum Duckmanton), Ethel b. 1897 bap. Sutton cum Duckmanton St Mary 16 May 1897; Charles b. 1899 bap. St Mary 24 September 1889; Emma b. 15 May 1901 bap. St Mary 14 July 1901; John William b. 1902 bap. St Mary 1 February 1903; then six children born in Mansfield, Hilda b. 1904; Elsie b. 11 January 1907; Florence Mary b. 15 July 1909; Nelly b. 1911; Clarence b. 19 March 1914 and Douglas b. 9 March 1917. In 1901 Edward (30), a cowman on a farm, and Susan (27) were living on Patterton Lane, Sutton cum Duckmanton, near Chesterfield, with four of their children, Mabel (7), George (5), Ethel (3) and Charles (1). Elizabeth Noon was living in Doe Lea in the parish of Ault Hucknall, with her widowed grandmother, Mary Noon; her uncle, James (30), was head of household. The family later moved to Sutton Scarsdale where Edward was still employed as a farm labourer, but by 1911 they were living at 117 Newgate Lane, Mansfield and Edward, was working as a colliery labourer. All ten of their children were in the home on the night of the census: Elizabeth Noon (21), Mabel a box maker (tin works), George, Ethel a printer (tin works), Charles, Emma (10), John William (8), Hilda (7), Elsie (5) and Florence (2). Nelly was born later that year, Clarence in 1914 and Douglas in 1917. Elizabeth Noon died in 1911 and was buried in Ault Hucknall churchyard on 9 July 1911; the burial record gave her home as Doe Lea so presumably she was again living with her mother's family. Two sibling, Charles and Ethel, both died in 1916 (J/A/S Mansfield) and Hilda on 11 January 1921 aged 16. John William probably died in 1932. At the time of George's death in 1918 his parents were living at 21 Bowling Street, Mansfield. Edward Caudwell died in 1939 (J/F/M Mansfield). His widow Susan was still living at 21 Bowling Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household were her married daughter Emma (surname Rose) and son Douglas who was a miner, and a lodger/boarder. The record of one member of the household remains closed. Susan died in 1944 (J/F/M Mansfield). Of George's surviving siblings: Mabel married William Harper in 1920 (A/M/J Mansfield). They were living in Blackpool in 1939 with their son, Alan (b. 5 October 1926). Mabel died in 1958 (registered Blackpool). Emma married George W Rose in 1929 (A/M/J Mansfield). In 1939 she was living with her widowed mother at 21 Bowling Street, Mansfield; the record gives her status as married but her husband, George Rose, has not yet been traced after their marriage. She died in 1980 (registered Mansfield). Elsie married Arthur J Sturman (b. 12 July 1907) in 1930 (A/M/J Mansfield). In 1939 they were living at 150 Leeming Lane Mansfield; Arthur was a colliery wagon loader (above ground). Elsie died in 1962 (registered Mansfield). Florence Mary married Bernard Caulton (b. 25 August 1907) in 1930 (A/M/J Mansfield). In 1939, Bernard, a painter and decorator, and Florence were living at 69 Leeming Lane. Also in the household was the widowed Joseph Caulton (b. 17 December 1876) a general labourer, and Tom Hopkinson (b. 1869) a 'scavenger'. Florence died in 1997 (registered Mansfield). Nelly has not yet been traced after 1911 although her name (Nellie Caudwell) appears in reports in a Mansfield paper in 1922 as an assentor in local council elections. Clarence married Sarah H Hooley (b. 17 February 1911) in 1932 (O/N/D Mansfield). In 1939 they were living at 144 Leeming Lane with their daughter Beryl (b. 26 August 1933). Clarence died in 1993 (registered Mansfield). Douglas was living with his widowed mother and married sister Emma (surname Rose) at 21 Bowling Street in 1939; he was a miner/haulage worker. He died in 2003 (registered Mansfield).
Corporal George Caudwell enlisted in Mansfield and served with the 8th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. According to a report of his death in the local paper he had previously served in the Territorial Force and had attended at least two annual camps, suggesting he had served for about three years as a Territorial. He landed in France on 2 March 1915 and was killed by shell fire a month later on 18 April. In April 1918 the battalion was in the area of Vaudricourt when, on 18 April, in anticipation of an enemy attack along the La Basse Canal, the battalion was ordered to: 'man part of the Sailly Labourse 'locality' known as the 'Tuning Fork Line' just in front of that village, so-called because it formed part of a system of trenches and breastworks shaped like a tuning fork.' Orders were slightly delayed and the battalion marched off too late to reach its battle positions before dawn with the result that it was exposed to the enemy's barrage; 'This as usual including heavy shelling of the rear roads and villages through which we had to pass, particularly Verquigneul and Sailly, where we suffered several casualties and lost Corpl. Caudwell, who had done such good work with the Transport, and two men killed and several others wounded.' ('History of the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters 1914-1919', Captain WCC Weetman) George Caudwell was buried in Fouquieres Churchyard Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref. II.G.2).
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace' Article published on 17th May 1918 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “MANSFIELD CORPORAL KILLED. “Corporal George Cauldwell, aged 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cauldwell, 21, Bowling-street, Mansfield, has made the supreme sacrifice, we regret, to announce. He was in the “Territorials” before he joined the regular army, and was employed at the Mansfield Colliery. With the Volunteers he was at Thoresby and Humnaby, and entered the army three years ago last February. He was a corporal in the 1-8th Sherwood Transport. Twelve weeks ago he was home on leave. Shrapnel wounds caused his death. “The following letter has been received from his captain:— “France, April 18th, 1918. “Dear Mr. Cauldwell, — I very much regret that I have to write and give you bad news, but I feel sure you will be glad to receive the few particulars I can give you. I am very sorry, indeed, to tell you that your son, Corporal George Cauldwell was killed this morning whilst in charge of some wagons going up to the line. A shell burst amongst them, hitting your son in the head, and killing him instantaneously. Will you please accept my most heartfelt sympathy in your loss. It will be a great blow to you, as it is to me. I know what a good man I've lost. Although I have not been associated with him long, I found him a particularly reliable fellow and a man I could trust anywhere. I am unable to tell you where he is buried, owing to the censorship regulations, but if you write to the “Graves Registration Committee, London,” they will, no doubt, tell you. I trust this news will not be too great to bear, and I hope the blow will be softened by the knowledge that he did his duty. Again assuring you of my most heartfelt sympathy in your great loss, I remain, yours faithfully, C. G. Tomlinson, Captain, 8th Sherwood Foresters.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’ 21 January 1921: ‘On the 11th inst., Hilda Caudwell, Bowling-street, Mansfield, aged 16 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
