George Hinton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George Wilsoncroft (later Hinton) was the son of Reuben Hinton and Eliza Wilsoncroft. His father Reuben Hinton was born in Crich, Derbyshire, in 1858, the son of John Frederick and Mary Ann Hinton. His parents were born in Sneinton and Arnold (both Nottingham) respectively, and Reuben was baptised at Arnold St Mary in January 1859. The family lived in Radford, Nottingham, for a period around 1861 but later returned to Crich. Reuben, a stonemason, married Mary Wigley (b. Crich 1861) at Belper St Peter in September 1878 and from the census records had at least four children: William Henry b. Crich 1878, Joseph b. Crich 1881, Sarah Ann b. Matlock 1883 and Reuben b. Ilkeston 1888. However, there was probably a fifth child, Hannah Florence, who was born in Radford, Nottingham, in 1886 (mother's maiden name Wigley) and who in 1891 was living with Reuben's younger brother George Hinton and his wife Annie (née Wilmot, m. 1882) in Arnold, Nottingham, and described as George's niece. Florence was living in lodgings in Daybrook, Arnold, in 1901 and 1911. Reuben and Mary were living in Crich in 1881. However, by 1891 Reuben, described on the census as married, was living on Morris Street, Arnold, with his three sons William (12), Joseph (10) and Reuben (2), while his daughter Sarah (8) was a boarder with a family on West Street, Arnold. Reuben's wife has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census. However, by 1901 Reuben, described on the census as a widower, was living in Brown Cow Yard, Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, with three of his four children, Joseph a coal miner, Sarah a hosiery hand machinist and Reuben. Also in the household was Eliza Wilsoncroft (b. 1866 Mansfield, parents John and Ann Wilsoncroft), described as Reuben's housekeeper, and their three children who were born in Mansfield: George birth registered 1896 (J/F/M, reg. Wilsoncroft) bap. George Wilsoncroft Mansfield SS Peter & Paul 8 June 1896 (mother Eliza Wilsoncroft, residence Ratcliffe Gate); Emma b. 1897 (reg. Hinton) and Elsie May b. 1899 (reg. Hinton). Reuben's eldest son William Henry had married Rose Slaney in 1897 and they were also living in Mansfield. Reuben snr. died in 1905. Joseph had married Beatrice Ann Blud in 1902, Sarah Ann married George Albert Littlewood in 1905 and Reuben married Gertrude Ullyatt in 1909. On the night of the 1911 census, all three siblings were recorded at Gladstone Street, Mansfield, in the home of Sarah and George Littlewood and their daughter. Reuben and his wife and daughter were described as boarders while Joseph, his wife and their two sons were recorded as visitors. Also in the household was their half-brother, George Wilsoncroft, a miner below ground at Mansfield Colliery, and a boarder, Elias Orton (21), a colliery stoker boiler. In 1911, George's mother, Eliza Wilsoncroft (42), using the surname Hinton but described as a spinster, was living on Mansfield Road, Sutton in Ashfield, a general domestic servant in the household of Allan Ashley (married) and his three children. Also living with her were her two children, Elsie May Hinton described as 'reputed daughter' and Horace Hinton (birth registered 1910, surname Wilsoncroft), described as 'reputed son.' Eliza's eldest daughter, Emma Hinton, a doffer (cotton), was living with Edward and Emma Dove and their seven children in Sutton in Ashfield and described as their adopted child. George attested in the Territorial Force in 1913 and named his mother Eliza Hinton of 5 St Peter's Square, Sutton in Ashfield, as his next of kin. His mother completed a form for the army in 1919 listing her late son's blood relatives: Mother: Eliza Hinton, St Peter's Square Brothers (half-blood): WH Hinton (44) Mansfield, J Hinton (35) Sutton in Ashfield and R Hinton (30) Mansfield. Sisters (full blood): Emma Hall (21, m. 1915), Elsie Hinton (19) both of St Peter's Square. Sisters (half-blood), Annie [Sarah Ann] Littlewood (39) Gladstone Street Mansfield. The later CWGC record gave his mother's address as 9 Peter Square, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottingham. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Eliza Wilsoncroft, described as a widow, and her widowed daughter Emma Hall and three of her five children, were living in Derby. Eliza died in 1940.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). Served as Hinton. George attested in the Territorial Force on a four year engagement (service in the UK) on 30 April 1913. He was 17 years 4 months old, height 5ft 3½ins., and employed as a miner (Crown Farm Colliery Company). He joined 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (embodied service) on 5 August 1914 and on 3 September 1914 accepted a liability to serve overseas. He transferred to the 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters on 2 February 1915 and embarked at Southampton on 25 June the same year to join the BEF France. George died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen at No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station less than a month later on 21 July 1915. His death was recorded in the Battalion's war diary, entry 22 July 1915. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. III. B. 3A). Home Service 30 April 1913-24 June 1915 (2 years 57 days); France 25 June 1915-21 July 1915 (27 days). Total service 2 years 84 days. He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. No. 10 CCS was mobilised in January 1915 and landed at Le Havre on 19 January. It took over Ecole St Vincent and a nearby theatre from No. 3 CCS on 1 February 1915 but in mid-June made the transfer to Remy Siding, near Lijssenthoek. It admitted casualties from 27 June and stayed at Remy Siding for nearly three years. CWGC - History of Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (extract). The cemetery is 12kms from the town of Ieper (Ypres). 'During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces. From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places.' (www.cwgc.org)
Elias Orton, who was living with Sarah and George Littlewood at 21 Gladstone Street, Mansfield, in 1911, served in the Sherwood Foresters (22139 Private) and 'died at sea' on 17 November 1915. (See record on this Roll of Honour). CWGC additional information: 'Son of Mrs. Hinton, of 9, Peter Square, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham.' George's personal belongings were returned to his mother Mrs Eliza Hinton, 5 St Peter's Square. They comprised: testament, pocket case, letters, photo case, notebook, cigarette case, matchbox, knife, rosary, disc. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Eliza Hinton was his sole legatee. Mansfield Reporter, 20 August 1915: ‘Sherwood Foresters. Heavy Losses Among Officers and Men … Rank and File. Died of Wounds. Sherwood Foresters 8th Battalion (TF), Pte G Hinton (1700)’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 26 November 1915 (extract): ‘Free Churches And The Valiant Dead. Memorial Service at Bridge Street. Laurel Wreaths for Heroic Men. The memorial service for the sixteen gallant men who have given their lives for the nation, and who were connected with the Free Churches of Mansfield, was a most impressive and touching occasion. It was held in the Bridge-street Wesleyan Methodist Church on Sunday evening at 7.45, an hour fixed so as to allow worshippers in other churches to attend in order to do honour to the memory of the heroes. The congregation was a notable one, for it filled every part of the building, and scores of people had to stand. A civic touch was given to the service by the presence of the Mayor (Councillor T Smith) wearing his chain and he was accompanied by [names of aldermen, councillors and council officials]. Three ministers, the Revs. CF Gill (Primitive Methodist), CM Wright (Old Meeting House), and WJ Mackness (Skerry Hill Reform) occupied seats in front of the rostrum [Note: Rev FJ McAdam, Congregational, opened the service] and the relatives of the brave men who fought for their country, were in the pews facing them … It was a happy idea which led the promoters of the service to introduce a laurel wreath for each of the men for whom the service was being held, and these sixteen symbols of victory were hung from the pillars of the building and the choir stalls. Attached to each wreath was a white card, bearing the borough arms, and the name of the soldier. The tributes were afterwards handed to the mourners … The Roll Call … Brown, Ernest, 1st Cheshire Regiment. Butler, Harry, RM Light Infantry. Fletcher, John Wim, 2nd York & Lancs. Foster, Harold, 8th Sherwood Foresters. Hall, Samuel, 2nd Sherwood Foresters. Hayes, Geo. Edwin, Royal Engineers. Hinton, Geo., 8th Sherwood Foresters. Houfton, Chas M., 8th Sherwood Foresters. May, Percy, 8th Sherwood Foresters. Mayman, Thos. H., 8th Sherwood Foresters. Millband, Ernest, 8th Sherwood Foresters. Penson, Reginald, 2nd London Rgt RF. Radford, William, 8th Sherwood Foresters. Short, Gladstone, 1st East Surrey Regt. Sipson, Charles, 1st Sherwood Foresters. Townroe, John Geo. 8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars.’ The report included details of the address given by the Rev. J Leonard Webber. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
