Herbert Shooter
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Herbert Shooter was born in 1897 and was the son of the late Francis Shooter a coal miner and Mary Jane Shooter née Walker . His father Francis was born in 1859, he died in 1897 aged 38 yrs, Mary Jane Walker was born in 1865 , they were married in 1879 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district, His mother married George Else (born 1864 Derbyshire ) in 1898 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district they lived at Dalestorth Terrace, Skegby, Mansfield In 1911 they lived at Woodhouse Yard Sutton in Ashfield.
Lance Corporal Herbert Shooter, enlisted at Mansfield whilst resising at Sutton in Ashfield. He served with the 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters ( Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment (Welbeck Rangers), he was killed in action on 20th September 1917 and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery.(grave ref Vll.G.5).
An item in the Worksop Guardian of 10 November 1916 recorded details of Langwith casualties, including Herbert Shooter who had been wounded for the third time (in the feet). His brother, Joseph, had also been wounded, suffering shrapnel injuries to his leg and hand which resulted in the loss of a finger. (Source: 'A History of Langwith with Nether Langwith and Whaleythorns', Tony Warrener.) An article was published on 25th October 1917 in the Notts Free Press :- “LANCE-CORPORAL H. SHOOTER, SUTTON. “Official news has been received of the death of Lance-Corporal Herbert Shooter, of the Sherwood Foresters, who before enlisting resided with his parents at Woodhouse-yard, Alfreton-road, Sutton. He joined the colours at the age of 17 years, and was drafted to France in March, 1916. He was wounded in July, 1916, and sent to Wrest Park Hospital, and was an inmate there when it was destroyed by fire. He was sent out to France again in January, 1917. The following letter was received from a pal, (Corporal Turner, of Sutton): –– “I am writing to you a few lines as a friend of Lance-Corporal Herbert Shooter. You will no doubt have heard of him being missing, but I feel it my duty to write. The last time I saw him was on the night of September 19th, when they were preparing for another battle. The next day I was only there half-an-hour as I had to go to a transport camp for the night. I was with Herbert and a friend (Sergeant Gascoyne) [1]and they both said, “We wish we were going with you,” and I said “So do I.” I wished them both “Good luck and a safe return,” but I am sorry to say that I have not seen either of them since. I have made every enquiry I could concerning them both, and all that I can get to know is that they are both missing. I can assure you I have lost two good and true mates. I still hope to hear something before long. I don't know whether Herbert mentioned me at all to you; my name is Corporal Turner. I have great pleasure to tell you he was a good lad. He was not on the gun when he was missed. I shared his parcel up in our platoon as I thought you would not like me to send it back. I can assure you the boys enjoyed it, but I thought of poor Herbert at the time. I will close hoping that you will hear from him. –– Corporal Turner.” “Since receiving the above letter Mr and Mrs. Else have had official intimation that their son was killed in action on September 20th. Lance-Corporal Shooter before enlisting worked at New Hucknall Colliery.” [1] Sgt. Edward Gascoigne, 17th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment (Welbeck Rangers), was killed in action on 20th September 1917. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, he was the 26 year-old son of Thomas and Ann Gascoigne, of North Muskham, Newark, Nottinghamshire Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
