Clarence Edgar Costall
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Clarence Edgar Costall was born in 1899 at Mansfield Woodhouse and was the son of John a cowman on a farm and Mary Elizabeth Costall née Saunders of 37 Frederick Street, Mansfield. His father John was born in 1853 at Gelston, Lincolnshire and his mother Mary Elizabeth Saunders was born in 1860 at Doddington, Lincolnshire, they were married in 1880, their marriage was recorded in the Grantham Registration district, they went on to have 10 children, sadly three were to die in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were , Lucy b1885 Brandon, Lincs, Sam b1888 Brandon, Bessie Amy b1892 Brandon, Stephen Saunders b1895 Mansfield Woodhouse, Clarence Edgar b1899 Mansfield Woodhouse, and Valetta Mary b1901 Mansfield. In the 1911 census the family are living at 26 Harvey's Yard, Newgate Lane, Mansfield and are shown as John 58 yrs a cowman on a farm, he is living with his wife Mary Elizabeth 51 yrs and their children, Bessie Amy 19 yrs a frame worker in hosiery factory, Stephen Saunders 16 yrs a farm labourer, Clarence Edgar 12 yrs a scholar and Valetta Mary 10 yrs a scholar.
Private Clarence Edgar Costall enlisted on 5th June 1916 at Mansfield, he gave his age as18 years and 48 days, his address was 37 Frederick Street, Mansfield, his next of kin was his father John of the same address , he was a baker. He was posted to the reserves the following day and mobilised for war on 26th January 1917. Posted on 9th March 1917 to the 12th battalion training reserve he was transferred on 22nd June 1917 to the 4th battalion North Staffordshire Regiment. He embarked from Southampton on 6th October 1917 disembarking the following day at Le Harve, France. He was killed in action on 25th March 1918 and having no known grave his name was commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial France panel 67/68
The photographs of two Mansfield brothers, both prisoners of war, Sam and Stephen Costall, were published in the local press on 21st November 1914. (Nottingham Evening Post ) Pte. Sam Costall, 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), had enlisted on 9th November 1914 and had seen service in India from 1906, was mobilised on 5th August 1914 at Halifax. He landed in France on 10th August 1914. and was reported missing on 28th August 1914 later reported as a prisoner of war. He was repatriated and discharged from the Army on 11th March 19120. Pte. Stephen Costall, 2nd Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, landed in France on 8th September 1914 and was taken prisoner on 20th October 1914. He was repatriated and discharged from the Army. He died on 16th October 1918.
