Lawrence Wheelhouse
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Father: John Wheelhouse, born in 1867 in Nottingham and working as a paper hanger. Mother: Miriam, born in 1862 in Nottingham, employed as a lace worker. Brothers: John, born in 1888 in Nottingham and working as a labourer, William Ernest, born in 1892 in Nottingham and working as a carter, Leonard, born in 1902 in Nottingham and Marshall, born 2 October 1902 (O/N/D Nottingham) in Nottingham. Sisters: Jenny Elizabeth b. 27 June 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham), Mabel Guy, born in 1894 in Nottingham and employed as a lace worker. The family lived at 22 Richmond Street, Nottingham before moving to 2 Kingston Terrace, Beaumont Street, Nottingham. His brother, 4740 Private William Wheelhouse, 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters, was killed on 8 June 1916 aged 24. (Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy). (See record on this Roll of Honour) Their brother John (Jack) also served and was reported missing in 1917 but later confirmed a prisoner of war in Germany.
Wheelhouse attested on 25/06/1914 at Nottingham and was only 16 years old. On 27/06/1914 he was placed with the Sherwood Foresters Special Reserve, but was finally posted to France on 04/01/1915. The battalion was in the front line during the winter of 1914-15 in the Bethune area. It was a quiet period, though there were occasional episodes of shelling machine gun fire and sniping. Pte. Wheelhouse was killed in action just over three weeks after he arrived in France. He was buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France (grave ref. : IX. C. 32).
Nottingham Evening Post, 30 December 1909: ‘Brutal Husband. Three months for a Nottm. Man. For assaulting his wife, John Wheelhouse, painter, of 22, Richmond-street, Nottingham, was sentenced by the local magistrates to-day to three months imprisonment. Marian (sic) Wheelhouse, the prosecutrix, said that on Monday the prisoner struck her on the face with a hammer, and punched her several times. Her nose and er were cut, and she had two bad black eyes, medical attention being necessary.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Dear Sir, Just a few lines in acknowledgement to my son, Pte L Wheelhouse, 4710, Notts and Derby Regt, (-) & 2 rings which I thank you very much for being so kind to me for if it be ever so little we shall treasure them and am still yours (letter damaged) Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour' (abridged), 3 July 1916: 'Wheelhouse, killed in action June 8th 1916, Private W Wheelhouse, brother to Private L Wheelhouse, killed in action January 30th 1915. Mother, father, sisters, brothers.' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour' (abridged), 13 July 1916: 'Private W Wheelhouse, Sherwood Foresters, 2 Kingston Terrace, Nottingham, killed 8th June age 24. Brother of L Wheelhouse killed January 30th 1915, aged 18.' In memoriam published 30th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear son, Pte. Lorry Wheelhouse, killed in action January 30th, 1915. Oh, why was he taken, so young and so fair, from mother and father that loved him so dear; hard was the blow that compelled us to part, from one so loving and dear to our hearts. - From his loving mother, father, brothers Leonard, Marshall, Jack (prisoner of war in Germany). “WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear brother Lorry, killed in action January 30th, 1915. Gone from our home, but not from our hearts. - From sister Jenny and children, Floss, Alfred, Miriam. “WHEELHOUSE. - In loving memory of my dear brother Lorry, killed in action January 30th, 1915. A beautiful memory left behind, his duty nobly done. - From sister Mabel and Bill.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 His brother Private John (Jack) Wheelhouse, serving with “C Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, was taken prisoner at Oppy Wood on 28th April 1917, he survived the war.
