Walter Abdy Hempsall

Walter Abdy was the son of Frederick and Harriett Hempsall (née Hemstock). His father Frederick was born in North Muskham, Hewark, Nottinghamshire, in 1867, the son of William and Emma Hempsall (née Abdy). In 1881 the family was living on Norwell Lane, North Muskham; William was a railway gatekeeper and pointman. His mother Harriet Hemstock was born in Flintham, Nottinghamshire, on 11 August 1868. Frederick and Harriet were married at North Muskham St Wilfrid on 17 November 1890 and had nine children of whom only six survived infancy or childhood. The four eldest were born in North Muskham: Elizabeth Emma birth registered 1892 (J/F/M), Richard William b. 1893, George Hemstock b. 12 February 1896, Walter Abdy b. 1899 and Cissie Annie b. Langwith Derbyshire 2 January 1909. One of the three children to died in infancy may have been Florence Emily b. 1901 (reg. J/F/M) who died the same year (reg. A/M/J). Frederick, an agricultural labourer, and Harriet were living in North Muskham in 1891 and probably lived in the village until at least 1899 when Walter was born. They had moved to Soulkholme Lane, Soulkholme, Mansfield by 1901 where Frederick was working as a cowman on a farm. They now had five children: Elizabeth (9), Richard (7), George (5), Frederick (3) and Walter (2). Cissie was born eight years later. Frederick, now a labourer at a chemical works, was living with his wife and their six children at 17 Market Street, Shirebrook, Mansfield. Elizabeth was a charwoman, Richard a colliery pony driver and George a clipper-on at a colliery, Frederick, Walter and Cissie (2). Also in the household was their granddaughter, Elizabeth Hempshall (9m) who was probably their eldest daughter's child. By the time Walter enlisted the family was living at 3 Vallance's Yard, Nursery Street, Mansfield, and they were still at the same address when he was killed in 1918. Walter married Ethel M Hallam in 1916 (O/N/D) and they had a son Walter W b. 1917 (J/F/M) who died in 1918 (O/N/D), shortly after his father's death. Ethel had a second son, George Frederick who was born on 6 January 1919. Ethel probably married Jack Morgan in 1920 (reg. Mansfield). Her son George Frederick may have died in 1934 (J/A/S Orsett Essex) aged 15. His father Frederick died in 1932. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, his mother Harriet was living at 48 Houghton Road, Mansfield, with her youngest daughter Cassie. Cassie was living at 6 Houghton Road when she died on 19 October 1972. Walter's brother Richard served in the 1/5th Bn South Staffordshire Regiment (8817 Private) and was killed on 26 June 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Their eldest sister, Elizabeth Emma, had a daughter, Sarah Hannah Clarke Hempsall on 2 June 1914 by Wilfred Clarke who served in the York and Lancaster Regiment and was killed in 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Elizabeth and their daughter were accepted by the Army as Wilfred's dependants. Sarah married John A Mumford in 1934 and in 1939 they were living in Selston where John was a colliery worker. Sarah died in 1991. Elizabeth Emma married Samuel Atkin in 1924. In 1939 she was living in on Victoria Terrace, Kirkby in Ashfield, with her sons Douglas (b. 13 December 1927) and Joseph R (b. 25 June 1929). The records of two other members of the household remain closed but may have been those of her daughter Gwendoline D (b. 1925) and son Samuel JF (b. 1926). There is a record of the death of an Elizabeth Emma Atkin of Leamington Street, Leicester who died in Leicester in 1963 but was buried in Kingsway New Cemetery, Kirkby in Ashfield on 24 January. Frederick served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in the war (202085) and was discharged on 26 September 1919. He may have married Frances Watton in 1921. Frederick died in 1941 (reg. Mansfield). George Hemstock enlisted in 1916. In 1922 he married Edith M Shirley who died in 1932. In 1939 George was living on Cavendish Street, Langwith, Derbyshire, and working as a hewer below ground. Also in the household were his sons George (b. 17 February 1926) and Albert (b. 4 June 1928) and his housekeeper, Elizabeth A Goude (b. 4 October 1900 d. 1989), who was married. The records of two other members of the household remain closed. George died in 1969 (reg. Chesterfield)