Fred William Bilbie
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Fred was the second son of James and Ellen Bilbie (née Browne/Brown). His father James was born in Clifton, Nottingham, in about 1853, the son of Samuel and Ann Bilbie, and baptised at Clifton St Mary in October 1853. His mother Ellen was born in Nottinghamshire in about 1853, the daughter of William and Sarah Browne/Brown and baptised at Cotgrave All Saints, Nottinghamshire, in December 1853. His parents were married at Cotgrave All Saints in July 1873 and had seven children, the eldest of whom was born before their marriage: Walter b. abt. 1871 bap. Cotgrave All Saints September 1871, Gertrude Elizabeth b. 1879 and Fred William b. 1881 who were born in Cotgrave and James William (William) b. 1884, Lewis b. 1889, Frank b. 1891 and Ivy Ann b. 1898 d. 1919 who were born in Clifton. Ellen and her son Walter were living in Cotgrave with her widowed father in 1871. She and her husband James, an agricultural labourer, and their two children, Walter and Gertrude, were recorded in her father's household on the 1881 Census. However, by 1891, James, now a gardener's labourer, his wife and four of their five children, Gertrude, Fred, William and Lewis, were living at 'Private House', Clifton. Their eldest son Walter has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census but he married Ellen Elizabeth Hopkins at Attenborough St Mary in 1893 and in 1901 they were living on South Street, Long Eaton, Derbyshire. James and Ellen with five of their children, Gertrude, William, Lewis, Frank and Ivy, were living on Village Street, Clifton, in 1901. Fred, a drayman, was living in Long Eaton with his brother Walter, a fitter's labourer, and his wife. James and Ellen were still living in Clifton in 1911 but only their youngest child Ivy was still living at home. Walter, a machine shaper, his wife Elizabeth and their son were still living in Long Eaton but were now at 24 Co-operative Street. Gertrude had married George Butler, a farm labourer, in 1907 and they and their daughter were living in Clifton. James William, a motor lorry driver for the Co-operative Society, his wife Louisa (née Beeby m. Clifton St Mary 1905) and their daughter were living on Station Street, Long Eaton. Lewis was a chauffeur in the household of Henry Edward Thornton, a bank director, who lived at the Ropewalk, Nottingham. The youngest son Frank was a gardener and recorded on the census living at 'The Bothy', Clifton, along with the head gardener and another gardener. Fred had married Gertrude Whittaker (b. Cotgrave 1882) at Long Eaton St Laurence in October 1904. They had five children: Fred William b. 1905, Maud Evelyn b. 1907, Thomas Herbert b. 1908, Frank James b. 1909 and Albert Edwin b. 1915. In 1911 Fred, a vanman (bread deliveries) for the Co-operative Society, his wife and their four children, Fred, Maud, Thomas and Frank, were living at 38 Co-operative Street, Long Eaton. The family was living at 47 Bridge Street, Long Eaton, when Fred attested in 1915 and Gertrude and her five children were still living in Long Eaton when the 1921 Census was compiled. Fred gave his occupation as 'waggoner' when he attested in 1915 and might have been employed as a wagon labourer with the Midland Railway. (See 'Extra information') His father James died in April 1928 and was buried in Clifton St Mary churchyard on 2 May. His mother Ellen died in 1945.
Fred William Bilbie enlisted on 5th June 1915 in Nottingham. He was aged 32 years and 9 months, occupation waggoner. Home address 47 Bridge Street, Long Eaton, next of kin wife Gertrude. Fred was posted to the 17th (Welbeck Rangers) Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), a service battalion of Kitchener's New Armies raised in Nottingham on 1 June 1915 by the mayor and a recruiting committee. The Battalion joined 117th Brigade, 39th Division, in October 1915. Fred was appointed unpaid lance corporal on 21 December 1915 and to paid lance corporal on 4 January the following year. He was promoted acting corporal on 1 February 1916 shortly before the Battalion was posted to BEF France, embarking on 6 March and disembarking Le Havre the same day. Fred was promoted corporal on 9 March. He was killed in action three months later on 15 June and is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg- L'Avoue, France (grave reference III.G.29). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Le Touret Military Cemetery (extract): 'The Cemetery was begun by the Indian Corps (and in particular by the 2nd Leicesters) in November, 1914, and it was used continuously by Field Ambulances and fighting units until March 1918. It passed into German hands in April 1918, and after its recapture a few further burials were made in Plot IV in September and October.' (www.cwgc.org)
His brother Private Frank Bilbie enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 1/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters. Frank was killed in action on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and is buried at Canadian Cemetery No. 2, Neuville-St.Vaast. (See record on this Roll of Honour) British Army Railwaymen Died in the Great War: Midland Railway, FW Bilbie, corporal, wagon labourer. WMR893 Midland Railway Memorial (cenotaph), Midland Road, Derby DE25 8BJ - FW Bilbie. CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Peace perfect peace' CWGC Additional information: 'Father of Fred W. Bilbie, of 47, Bridge St., Long Eaton, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 26 June 1916: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, Corporal Fred Bilbie, of Long Eaton, the beloved son of James and Ellen Bilbie, Clifton.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam.’ 14 June 1917: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, June 14th (sic), 1916, Corpl. Fred Bilbie, of Long Eaton, the beloved son of James and Ellen Bilbie, Clifton. Until the day break. Also Frank Bilbie, missing July 1st, 1916, now reported killed, the younger and beloved son. A noble life laid down. Professional cricketers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) CWGC: Date of death 15 June 1916 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam.’ 27 June 1917: ‘Bilbie. In loving memory of my dear brother, Pte. Frank Bilbie, Clifton, Nottingham, 7th Sherwoods, killed July 1st, 1916. The Gift of God is eternal life. Also beloved brother, Corpl. Fred Bilbie, of Long Eaton, 1/7 Sherwoods, killed June 14th (sic) 1914 (sic). At peace with God.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) CWGC: Date of death 15 June 1916 Fred's personal property was returned to his widow in August 1916 and comprised: 1 disc, 2 letters, 1 pipe, 1 knife, 1 pair scissors, 1 handkerchief, 1 purse, 3 cards, 2 railway passes. Gertrude Bilbie was awarded a pension of 25 shillings a week for herself and her five children with effect from 1 January 1917, increasing by 2 shillings and 6 pence a week from 3 February 1917.
