William Edmund Bird
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William Edmund Bird was born in 1893 at Blidworth and was the son of Edmund Clark Bird a threshing machine driver and Annie Bird née Holloway of the Meadows, Blidworth, Mansfield. His father Edmund Clark was born in 1865 at Blidworth and died on 13th May 1917 aged 51 yrs, his mother Annie Holloway was also born in 1865 at Blidworth, they were married on 1st March 1891 at Blidworth, they went on to have 9 children, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood, their children were , William Edmund b1893. Thomas Arthur b1895, Elsie Mary b1896, Edith Annie b1897, Alice May b1900, Sarah Kate b1902 and Eleanor b1904, all were born at Blidworth.In the 1911 census the family are living at The Meadows, Blidworth and are shown as Edmund Clark 45 yrs a threshing machine driver, he is living with his wife Annie 45 yrs and their children, William Edmund 18 yrs a grammar school student, Thomas Arthur 16 yrs at home no occupation, Elsie Mary 14 yrs helping at home, Edith Annie 13 yrs helping at home, Alice May 11 yrs a scholar, Sarah Kate 8 yrs a scholar and Eleanor 7 yrs of age. He was the husband of E. C. Bird, of "The Meadows," Blidworth, Mansfield, Notts (CWGC)He left £166 44s & 11d to Edith Emily Reynolds, spinster.
Had also served with The Royal Sussex Regiment.William died in hospital from shrapnel wounds and was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'At restin the sure and certain hope'Mansfield Reporter, 4 May 1917: ‘Lieut. Bird, of Blidworth, Killed. We regret to announce the death of another old boy of the Queen Elizabeth’s School, Mansfield, Second-Lieut. Wm. E. Bird,of the Royal Fusiliers. He died from shrapnel wounds last Saturday morning in France after several days in hospital. His brother, Private A Bird, was sent for, but arrived too late to see him alive. Deceased was for some time a teacher at Kirkby and in Essex, and entered the Army from Nottingham Training College. As an officer he was very greatly liked by his men, who sent messages home about him full of affection and respect. Deep grief has been caused by his loss, and much sympathy is felt for his parents.; (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
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