William Thurman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the eldest son of Thomas and Minnie Thurman (née Ward). Both his parents were born in Mansfield, his father in 1860 and his mother in 1864; it is likely that her birth name was Anne/Ann. According to the information provided on the 1911 Census, the couple had been married for 28 years. No record of their marriage has been found in Nottinghamshire but there is a record of the marriage of a Thomas Thurman (23) to Annie Ward (21), both living in the parish of Leicester St Leonard, who were married in the parish church in January 1883. Thomas and Minnie had five children, the eldest of whom died in her late teens. Three of their children were born in Mansfield and two, William and Frederick, in Cossall, Nottinghamshire: Edith b. 1883 (O/N/D) bap. Mansfield St Philip 1883 (parents Thomas & Ann) d. 1902; Ethel Minnie b. 1885 bap. St Philip 1886 (parents Thomas & Minnie); William birth registered 1888 (J/F/M), Frederick b. 1893 and Arthur John b. 1897. Thomas Thurman died on 25 September 1917, eight months after the death of his eldest son. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widow and their unmarried daughter Ethel were living at 16 Radford Place, Mansfield. Minnie died the following year on 15 February 1940. William's younger brothers, Frederick and Arthur, also served in the war. Both survived and lived until 1988 and 1965 respectively. Their sister Ethel died in 1965.
1st Bn Cameronions (Scottish Rifles). Formerly 41434 Notts & Derby Regiment. William joined the army in March 1916 and served with the BEF France from December 1916. He died on 30 January 1917 of wounds received in action and is buried in Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, France (grave ref. I.E.5). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Hem Farm Military Cemetery (extract): The villages of Monacu and Hem-Monacu are approximately 13km from the town of Albert. 'Hem-Monacu was captured by French troops in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and taken over by British troops later in the year. Hem Farm Military Cemetery was begun by British troops in January 1917, and used until the following March, and again in September 1918; and these graves now form part of Plot I, Rows E, F and G. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the addition of graves from the battlefields on both sides of the Somme and from smaller cemeteries [listed].'
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Rest in peace' CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Thomas and Minnie Thurman of 16 Radford Place, Mansfield.' Mansfield Reporter, 3 March 1916: Tribunal Sits at Mansfield. Long Sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday … ‘See the Conquering Hero Comes.’ William Thurman, 28, Radford-street, applied on the grounds of serious hardship. Applicant’s father appeared, and said already two of his three sons had enlisted and he thought it hard that this one, who was a help to him, should have to go. The Mayor: The application is refused. Mr Thurman: I knew that before I came. I’m an old Volunteer, and have been carried round Sparken Hill camp to the strains of ‘See the Conquering Hero Comes.’’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 15 February 1917: Photograph with caption, 'Two brothers serving [Fred and Arthur]. Mansfield Reporter, 16 February 1917: ‘Pte William Thurman Killed. We regret to learn of the death, following upon wounds received whilst on active service in France of Private William Thurman, who resided with his parents in Radford-place, Radford-street, a nephew of Alderman Singleton, and cousin of Mr AJ Thurman. Private Thurman joined the Colours in March last, and went out to France shortly before last Christmas, and had since continued on active service. He formerly belonged to the 1st Cameronians, but was subsequently posted to a Scottish regiment. Official notification of his death, which took place on January 30th, was received in Mansfield last Monday by his relatives, with whom much sympathy has been expressed. The deceased soldier served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Singleton and Thurman, slaters, for which firm he worked up to the time of his enlisting in the army, and was much respected by all his workmates. He was a member of the St Peter’s Men’s Class. He was a good son, and his loss is severely felt by his parents, who have two other sons serving in France. He was also a member of the Sherwood Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’, 28 September 1917: ‘On the 25th inst., Thomas Thurman, Radford-place, Mansfield, aged 58 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
