Reginald William Edmund Pilbeam
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Reginald William Edmund Pilbeam was born in 1896 at Watnall and was the son of James an army pensioner and Elizabeth Pilbeam née Obbard of Wood Villas, Watnall, Nottinghamshire. His father James Pilbeam was born in 1838 at Cuckford, Sussex and died in 1907 aged 67 yrs his death was recorded in the Basford Registration District and his mother Elizabeth Obbard born 1851 East Shillington, Sussex. They were married on 11th December 1869 at Cuckfield, Sussex, they went on to have 12 children, Elisabeth Ellen b1870 Cuckfield, Charles James bIreland, Eva Emma b1875 Dublin, Maud Francis b1878 Dublin, Ethel Marianne b1879 Bulwell, Violette Obbard b1881 Bulwell, Beatrice Gillespie b1883 Bulwell (died 1883) Gordon George b1885 Watnall, Ida Misletoe b1888 Watnall, Ivy Gillespie b1890 Watnall, Victoria Rudolph b1892 Watnall and Reginald William Edmund Pilbeam b1896 Watnall. In the 1911 census the family are living at Wood Villas , Watnall and are shown as Elizabeth Pilbeam 60 yrs a widow, she is living with her children Ethel Marianne 30 yrs , no occupation listed, Violet Obbard 28 yrs an infant school teacher, Ida Mistletoe 23 yrs no occupation listed, Victor Rudolph 18 yrs railway clerk, great northern railway and Reginald William 14 yrs a railway clerk, Great Northern Railway.
Private Reginald William Edmund Pilbeam, enlisted at Nottingham in September 1914. Serving with the 26th Company Machine Gun Corps, formerly 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. He landed in France on 10th May 1915 and he was killed in action on 9th July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Pier & Face 5C & 12C
One of his brothers, Charles James Pilbeam was found dead at Gedling Colliery on 18th July 1915. “Hearing groans in the fitters’ shop at the Gedling Colliery yesterday afternoon, [18th July 1915] a workman found another employee, Charles Pilbeam, aged 45, a fitter’s labourer, lying on the floor. Pilbeam, whose home was at Gedling. died a few minutes later. It is stated that the deceased suffered from pains in the head and “nerves” about twelve months ago. An inquest will be held to-day.” [1] He served in the Boer War, being mentioned in despatches, but forfeited his medals after being discharged with ignominy on 25th January 1910. [1] 'Nottingham Daily Express,' 19th July 1915. Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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