Alfred Bircumshaw
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Alfred Bircumshaw (junior) was born in 1891 at Eastwood and was the son of Alfred Bircumshaw (senior) a wood cutter and Emma Bircumshaw née Wardle of 55 The Breach, Eastwood. His father Alfred (senior) was born in 1854 at Church Greasley and his mother Emma Wardle was born in 1861 at Shepshed, they were married in 1888 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District, they went on to have 6 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood their surviving children all of whom were born at Eastwood were , Alfred b1891, Annie Winifred b1892, Lois b1895 and Eunice b1898. Alfred married Margaret Elizabeth Wilmott in 1910 and they lived at 7 Greenhills Road Eastwood Nottinghamshire they had two children, Jane born 1912 and Francis born 1916. In the 1911 census Alfred is living at 8 Nether Green, Eastwood he is 21 yrs of age and a miner and is living with his wife Margaret 21 yrs. In the same 1911 census his parents are living at 55 The Breach, Eastwood and are shown as Alfred 55 yrs a wood cutter he is living with his wife Emma 50 yrs and their daughter Eunice 13 yrs.
Private Alfred Bircumshaw enlisted on 17th September 1909 at Eastwood, and was allocated service number 780, and posted to the 1st battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment he gave his age as 19 years and 7 months. His address was Eastwood, Nottinghamshire and was a miner by occupation. His father, Alfred was his next of kin and he lived at 55 The Breach, Eastwood. There is no record of him serving overseas and completed his annual training from the 31st July 1910 to 19th September 1913. On the 20th October 1913 he re-engaged for a period of one year. On the 5th August 1914 he was posted to the 1st/8th and on the 22nd February 1915 was transferred to 1st/8th Sherwood Foresters. On 30th September 1915 he was discharged from the army on the termination of his engagement. He rejoined the Army on 10th November 1915 at Ilkeston and was posted to the East Yorkshire Regiment, He was posted to his unit in France, embarking on 27th July 1918 and disembarking the next day. The same day he was posted to the 37th Infantry Base Depot in France and he was posted to 12th East Yorkshire Regiment. On 28th June 1918 he was wounded in action and received a gun shot wound to the back and was admitted to 35th General Hospital, Calais. 24th July 1918 he was transferred to England and was admitted to 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. He eventually was transferred to Ellerslie House, Gregory Boulevard Nottingham (the Duchess of Portland's Home for Paralysed Soldiers). He was medically discharged on 22nd February 1919 as no longer physically fit for war service, under Para 392(XVI) King's Regulations. He died on 27th February 1920 whilst still at Ellerslie House, Gregory Boulevard Nottingham and was buried Eastwood Cemetery.
On 5/3/1920 the Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser carried this obituary :- Hero's Death in Hospital - The death occurred on Friday last at Ellerslie House, Gregory Boulevard Nottingham (the Duchess of Portland's Home for Paralysed Soldiers) of Private Alfred Bircumshaw, 7 Greenhills Road Eastwood. Deceased had served in the Territorial Force and was working at Moorgreen Colliery when war broke out in August 1914 and immediately joined the army. He served for a long period in France with the 10th East Yorkshire Regiment and was severely wounded in the back and right leg in the summer of 1918. He was first treated in hospital at the base where for a fortnight his life was despaired of but he recovered sufficiently to be transferred to hospital at Manchester and subsequently to Nottingham where he passed away as stated. His body was brought to Eastwood for burial on Saturday night and the interment took place in the cemetery on Tuesday. The Rev T Johns Martin conducted the ceremony which was attended by the Matron, the Sister and a close companion from the Home who brought two beautiful wreaths and a cross from the Hospital Committee, Nursing Staff and patients. Four ex-servicemen, all of whom were companions of deceased in their younger days, acted as bearers. Deceased who was 30 years of age, leaves a widow and two little girls. The widow desires to gratefully acknowledge the great kindness shown to her husband by the Staff whilst under treatment at Ellerslie House. (All capitals as in original)
