Maurice Given
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the only son of Reverend Dr James Given MA. LLD and his wife Susan Woolley nee Smith. His father was born in Ireland and his mother in Collingham, Nottinghamshire. Maurice's mother was the daughter of Rev Thomas Smith BA, the vicar of Brailes, Warwickshire. On 9 July 1873 when she was 22 years old Susan married John Rayner Cooper in the parish of Brailes. They lived in Bridlington where her husband died on 18 June 1877. Susan married Rev James Given in Bridlington in 1890 and in 1901 they were living in Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire, where James was the vicar of St Thomas Becket parish church. Their two children, Maurice and Norah (b. 13 September 1896) were born in Chapel en le Frith. Maurice was christened in the parish church on 19 May 1893. The family was still living in Chapel en le Frith at the time of the next census in 1901 although on the night of the census only Maurice and his father were in the house as his mother and sister were visiting his maternal grandparents in Brailes, Warwickshire. James and Susan had two live-in servants, Ellen Harris (19) a cook/domestic and Fanny Compton (17) a housemaid; both women had been born in Brailes. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Nottingham where James Given was the vicar of St Saviours, Meadows, until his death on 20 February 1904. By 1911 James' widow was living at 5 Millicent Road, West Bridgford. Maurice had started work but at the time of the census his sister was a pupil boarder at the Royal Masonic School for Girls, Wandsworth Common, London. Also in the household was a boarder, Rev Richard Dudley Weller (28), and one general servant, Kate Davis, who like Susan's previous servants had been born in Brailes. Maurice's mother died aged 92 in Nottingham on 12 March 1944. She was then living at 2 Kingston Road, West Bridgford. His sister Norah married Stuart HW Dickson in Nottingham in 1919; she died in 1993 age 96 (death registered Louth, Lincolnshire).
He was a prisoner of war and died of dysentery in the Military Hospital, Demain, France. He is buried in Denain Communal Cemetery (grave ref. D.53). UK de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour: 'Given, Maurice, MM, Corpl No 266478 7th (Territorial) Battn. The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt.) only son of the late Rev. Dr. James Given MA LLD TCD Vicar of Chapel en le Frith , Co. Derby (1891-1901) and St Saviour’s Nottingham (1901-1904), by his wife Susan Woolley (5 Millicent Road, West Bridgford), dau. of the late Rev Thomas Smith, BA Vicar of Brailes, co. Warwick; b. Chapel en le Frith, co. Derby 7 April 1893, educ. Nottingham High School; was in the firm of Thomas Adams, Ltd, Lace Manufacturers, Nottingham; volunteered for active service, and joined the Sherwood Foresters 21 May 1915; served with his regiment in Ireland from 25 April 1916, and subsequently with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 26 February 1917; took part in the fighting at Bullecourt; was taken prisoner 21 March 1918 and died a prisoner of war at Denain Military Hospital 17 May following, of dysentery , contracted while on active service. Buried in the Cemetery there. He was awarded the Military Medal [London Gazette 26 Sept. 1917] for conspicuous gallantry and for saving lives under heavy enemy bombardment: unm.' His Military Medal and death plaque are in the Sherwood Foresters regimental museum in Nottingham Castle.
Nottingham Evening Post Roll of Honour, Friday 25 October 1918: 'As a result of the Allies' advance through Northern France it has been ascertained that Corporal Maurice given MM died a prisoner of war in the military hospital, Denain, France, on May 17th. He was 23 years old and the only son of the late Rev Dr Given and of Mrs Owen, Millicent Road, West Bridgford. He gained the MM for conspicuous gallantry in September of last year while serving with the Sherwood Foresters.' Death index: John Rayner Cooper died 18 June 1887. Probate 16 September 1887 to Susan Woolley Cooper of Bridlington, widow and Thomas Harland of Bridlington, Solicitor to the Executors. Personal estate £2,661 4s. 6d. Death index: James Given died 20 February 1904, Nottingham. Probate awarded to widow, effects £247 17s. 8d. Probate: 'Given Susan Woolley of 2 Kingston-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire widow died 12 March 1944 Probate Llandudno 28 June to Norah Dickson [daughter] (wife of Stuart Harry William Dickson). Effects £5461 4s. 2d.'
