Gladstone Short
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Gladstone Short was born in 1880 he was baptised on 15th March 1896 at St John's Church, Mansfield he was the son of the late Samuel and Christina Short née Skidmore of Mansfield Samuel was born in 1828 at Grantham he died in 1901 aged 73 yrs Chirstina Skidmore was born in 1834 at Grantham she died in 1903 aged 69 yrs they were married on 17th April 1853 at Grantham, they had 10 children. Gladstone married Mabel Godfrey, (born 20th November 1882 Mansfield) on 18th December 1909 at the United Methodist Church they had two children, John William Samuel born 2nd May 1911 and Robert Dean born 3rd June 1913 they lived at 31 Sherwood Road, Mansfield. In the 1911 census Gladstone is living with is wife Mabel at 66 Moor Street, Mansfield, he is 30 yrs and a Midland Railway goods porter and his wife Mable is 29 yrs. Commencing 18th May 1915 his widow was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week. Mabel remarried on 29th October 1915 to William Thompson a serving soldier.
In army prior to the war he enlisted on 24 October 1900 in Dublin aged 18 years and 6 months. He served in India and was discharged after 8 years and transferred to the Army Reserve on 24 December 1908. Described as very good, a steady reliable man with no instances of drunkenness. Received 2 good conduct medals. Was in the regimental band for 5 years, B/flat clarinet. He was recalled to the Colours on the outbreak of war and took part in the battles of Marne, Aisne and Ypres. He is buried in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert (grave ref. V.F.11)
He was described in his discharge papers as "very good, a steady reliable man, with no instances of drunkenness during his 8 years of service". Was in the regimental band as a B flat clarinettist for 5 years. He received 2 good conduct medals. Mansfield Reporter, 20 November 1914: ‘Killed at the Front. Private Gladstone Short. During the week-end news of the death of Private Gladstone Short, of 42, Sherwood-street, Mansfield, came to hand. He was (-) years of age, and leaves a wife and two children, the latter aged 3½ years and 1 year and five months. He was a member of the East Surrey Regiment, and was on the Reserve list, having served 14 years in the Army. He had spent a good deal of time in India. Previous to the outbreak he was employed at the Mansfield goods station. He mobilised on the first day of the war, and went to France a week afterwards. He took part in the early and arduous retreats of the war and was present at the battles of the Marne and Aisne. Recently he had been fighting near the Ypres, and it was here he received wounds which terminated fatally on the 13th October. Official notice was received by his widow last Friday. The deceased was highly respected, and was a native of the town, his father being for many years connected with a local boot shop.’ (www. britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
