Oswald Augustus Munro Steele
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He was the son of Arthur and Margaret (Maggie) Steele (nee Munro). His birth was registered in Mansfield registration district in 1893 (J/A/S). Arthur was born in Asfordby, Leicestershire, and Maggie in Scotland (abt. 1867). At the time of the 1911 census they had been married for 21 years and had had three children born alive of whom only two were still living at the time of the census. In 1891 Arthur (38) was the publican of the Queen's Head, Queen Street, Mansfield, and married to Margaret (25). Also in the public house was a boarder, Agnes Foster (18), and two staff, Eleanor Foster (22) a general domestic servant, and William Proctor (35) an ostler and general domestic servant. Ten years later in 1901 Arthur and Margaret had the White Hart Hotel, 10 Church Street, Mansfield. By now they had two sons, Murrey Arthur (9) and Oswald (7). Also in the household was Margaret's brother, Robert Munro, three boarders (a married couple and a single woman) and a general domestic servant and a barman. Robert Munro died on 24 October 1907. They were still at the White Hart Hotel in 1911 and Murrey, now 19 years old, was assisting his parents in the business. Arthur employed two general domestic servants, Sarah Musson (28) and Annie Musson (25). Oswald was not at home the night of the 1911 census but was one of two boarders in the household of an organist of Southwell Cathedral, Robert William Liddle, and his wife Josephine Liddle, at Vicars' Court, Southwell. Oswald (17) and his fellow boarder were described as pupils and possibly attended the Southwell Minster School. His father, Arthur, died on 30 June 1916 aged 65. Margaret later married Ernest Henry Shacklock on 9 April 1918 and died aged 55 on 18 April 1922. Oswald's brother, Murrey Arthur, who also served in the Seaforth Highlanders in the war, died aged 30 on 19 April 1922, the day after his mother's death. He left a widow, Mary (née Royce) and two children.
6th Bn Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Butts, the Duke of Albany's) Oswald suffered shrapnel wounds to the back and hand in August 1916. Oswald was killed in action the following year on 23 April 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France (Bay 8). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Inscription on family gravestone, Mansfield (Nottingham Road) Cemetery: 'Thy will be done. In loving memory of Arthur Steele who died June 30th 1916 aged 65 years. Also of Oswald AM Steele son of the above killed in action in France April 23rd 1917 aged 24 years. Also Maggie Shacklock who died April 18th 1922. At rest. Also Robert Munro who died October 24th 1907.' Note: Maggie Shacklock (formerly Steele) was Arthur Steele's widow and Robert Munro was Arthur's brother-in-law. Report published 28th August 1916 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “WOUNDED. “PRIVATE OSWALD STEELE. “We are sorry to hear that Private Oswald Steele, of the Seaforth Highlanders, son of Mrs. Steele, White Hart Hotel. Mansfield, has been wounded. It appears that he was struck with shrapnel in the back and hand, being wounded in several places. On Aug 4th he was admitted to hospital, but is now, we understand, able to walk a little, but is still very weak. It is not very likely that he will be sent to England to recuperate. He writes home cheerfully, stating he will soon be ready to have another tussle with the Boches. His brother, Murrey Steele, is also in the Seaforths, but he is still in training in England.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Probate: Steele Arthur of the White Hart Hotel Mansfield Nottinghamshire licensed victualler died 30 June 1916 Probate Nottingham 28 November to Maggie Steele widow and Harold Royce boot and shoe manufacturer. Effects £8691 12s. 3d. Resworn £10091 12s. 3d. Nottingham Evening Post, 30 October 1919: ‘Mansfield Will in Court. Soldier ‘Deemed To Have Died.’ In the Chancery Division to-day Mr Justice Astbury, on a question arising on the will of the late Arthur Steele, of Mansfield, declared his son Oswald, of the 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, should be deemed to have died prior to the 9th of April last year [1918], the date of the second marriage of his mother. Evidence was given that fellow soldiers saw Oswald fall badly wounded at Arras on the morning of April 24th (sic) [1917] during a German counter-attack.’ (britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Shacklock Maggie of Argyll Mount 74 Portland-street Mansfield Nottinghamshire (wife of Edward Henry Shacklock) died 18 April 1922 Administration Nottingham 23 June to the said Edward Henry Shacklock retired stationer. Effects £515 14s. 9d. Mansfield Reporter: 21 April 1922: ‘Death of Mr Murray Steele. We regret to announce the death of a well-known local footballer, Mr Murray Steele, which occurred on Wednesday in a sanatorium in the South of England. The deceased was an old Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar schoolboy, and kept goal for Notts. County on many occasions. During the war he was attached to a Scotch regiment, and added to his reputation as a goalkeeper in army football. As a member of the Mansfield Operatic Society, he took part in several of their productions, playing leading parts in ‘the Gondoliers’ and ‘Haddon hall,’ He married Miss Mary Royce, and leaves a widow and two children. His mother died in Mansfield this week, and he received the news of her death half an hour before he passed away. He was 30 years of age.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Steele Murrey Arthur of the Isolation Hospital Wincanton Somersetshire died 19 April 1922 Probate London 12 May to Mary Penta Steele widow. Effects £2167 3s. 4d.
