Edward Archer Thurman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edward Archer was the son of Edward Harrington and Ann Eliza Thurman (née Day). His father Edward Harrington was born in Sneinton, Nottingham, in 1857, the son of Edward Harrington, a malster. His mother Ann Eliza in Tollerton, Nottinghamshire, in about 1856, the daughter of Simon White Day. Edward and Ann were married at Carrington St John the Evangelist in January 1881. Edward (23) a malster, was living at the White Hart Inn, Barker Gate, Nottingham, and Ann (25) was living in Sherwood. The couple had three children: Annie Ethel b. Sherwood 1882 (reg. J/F/M), Edward Archer b. Sherwood 20 October 1885 and Mary Alice b. Sneinton 1889. All three children were baptised at Sneinton St Stephen, Edward on 17 November 1885. Edward, a publican, and his wife were living at the White Horse Inn, 14 Barker Gate. Nottingham, in 1881 and still living there when their eldest daughter was born in 1882. However, they had moved to 29 Notintone Place by 1885 and to 6 Notintone Place in 1889 when their two youngest children were baptised. On the 1891 Census, Ann, listed as head of household, was living at Notintone Place with her three children. She employed a general domestic servant. By 1901 the family was recorded at 2 Belvior Terrace, Sneinton, but in 1911 Edward, now retired as a malster, and Ann, a boarding house keeper, were living at 24 Cranmer Street, Nottingham, along with their youngest daughter Mary and three male boarders (two bank clerks and an art student). Ethel has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but her brother Edward, a clerk in the corn trade, was a boarder at Old Turnpike Farm, Uttoxeter, the home of Edward Pointon, a farmer, and his wife. However, the probate record gave Edward's address as 18 Carter Street, Uttoxeter. Edward Archer's mother died in November 1913 and his father married Frances Hickling in 1916. They moved to Keyworth where they were living at 28 Selby Lane when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Edward died in 1944.
1/1st Bn South Nottinghamshire Hussars. Formerly 1242 (Corporal). At the end of December 1915 Thurman was serving in Swaffham and wrote to the 'Uttoxeter Advertiser' to thank the townsfolk for a Christmas parcel that they had sent: 'Rubbing It In. The parcel came as a pleasant surprise, for up to the present I am the only one in the Sergeants’ mess to be remembered in such a substantial way by townspeople. I have had my leg pulled at various times about Uttoxeter but I can assure you I did not forget to rub it in when I had the table spread.' At the time of writing the above letter he was attached to the headquarters staff as Sergeant Instructor of Musketry. By November 1916 he was serving in the Balkans and sent a copy of 'The Balkan News' to the 'Uttoxeter Advertiser'. As the newspaper was published in Salonika, it seems likely that his service took him there at some stage. The Uttoxeter Advertiser published an extract from 'The Balkan News'. Under the heading of 'Our Birthday', the editor wrote: 'To-day is our birthday number, and we sincerely hope that it will never attain its second anniversary. Such a wish is unusual in those who are responsible for the life and vigour of newspapers, but 'The Balkan News' is unique among its kind. It was born of the war, it is indeed one of the very few authentic war babies and the continuance of ist existence depends directly on the continuance of the war.' In conclusion, the writer says: 'Let us hope that by this time next year the successful march of events will have enabled us all to take a cheery farewell of Macedonia. And if Fate and the Kaiser will otherwise, well, 'The Balkan News' will still be there, helping to make the best of the situation.' At some stage after this, Sergeant Thurman was reduced in rank to corporal; reason not known. Edward Thurman was killed in action in Palestine on 3 December 1917 and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel and Palestine (including Gaza). (Grave ref. H.42) CWGC - History of Ramleh War Cemetery (extract): 'The cemetery dates from the First World War, when Ramleh (now Ramla) was occupied by the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade on 1 November 1917. Field Ambulances, and later Casualty Clearing Stations, were posted at Ramleh and Lydda from December 1917 onwards. The cemetery was begun by the medical units, but some graves were brought in later from the battlefields and from Latron, Sarona and Wilhema Military and Indian Cemeteries.' (www.cwgc.org)
Edward Archer's uncle, Arthur John Thurman (b. 1874), served in the South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry and enlisted in the Imperial Yeomanry in December 1899. He named his brother Edward Thurman of 6 Belvoir Terrace, Sneinton, as one of his next of kin. Arthur volunteered for service in South Africa (Boer War, 1900-1902) and went out to South Africa with No. 12 (South Notts) Company, 3 Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, on 28 January 1900. He died of enteric fever at Boshof on 30 May 1900, aged 26, leaving a wife (Sarah Sulley m. 1900) and son, Arthur Lancelot, who was born in February 1900. Arthur John was employed by the Midland Railway as a clerk. A report of his death was published in the Derby Daily Telegraph and Nottingham Evening Post on 4 June 1900. Memorials: Midland Railway Employees (Derby railway station). South Notts Hussars, Boer War 1900-1902 (Nottingham St Mary) CWGC additional information: 'Son of Edward Harrington Thurman and Ann Eliza Thurman, of Selby Lane, Keyworth, Notts. Born at Sherwood.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Thy will be done' Uttoxeter Advertiser, 1917: 'He [Edward Thurman] was well-known in the Uttoxeter district, especially amongst the agricultural community, having for many years been the representative of Messrs. Shaw & Co., corn factors, of Uttoxeter. Corporal Thurman came to Uttoxeter from the Nottingham district, and on the outbreak of war he rejoined the Yeomanry unit with which he was connected some years previously. He was for several years a member of the Uttoxeter Town Cricket Club, being popular with all who knew him and his many friends in the district will be sorry to hear of his death.' Probate: Thurman Edward Archer of 18 Carter-street Uttoxeter Staffordshire a corporal South Nottinghamshire Hussars died 3 December 1917 in Palestine from wounds Administration (with Will) Lichfield to Ethel Thurman spinster. Effects £70 9s. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his sister Ethel was his sole legatee.
