William Arthur Oscroft

William Arthur was the third son of Joseph and Sarah Ann Oscroft. Joseph and Sarah Ann were married in about 1885 and had six children: Joseph b. abt 1885, John b. abt. 1888, Hilda Ann b. 7 August 1892, William Arthur birth registered 1894 J/F/M Basford, Jessie b. 1897 and Winifred Alice b. 20 December 1898 (J/F/M Basford). All the children were born in Kirkby in Ashfield. The family lived at 21 Church Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, and in 1911 all six children were still living at home. Joseph Oscroft (54) was a colliery banksman, his son Joseph (25) was a railway platelayer, John (23) a colliery banksman and William (17) a colliery pony driver (below ground) while his eldest daughter Hilda (20) was a dressmaker working from home and his two youngest daughters, Jessie (14) and Winifred (12) were still at school. William's brother Joseph also served in the King's Royal Rifles (R/10480 Rifleman) enlisting in February 1915. He died in hospital in England of wounds received in action on 18 October 1918 aged 33 (Kirkby in Ashfield St Wilfrid churchyard). Sarah Oscroft completed forms for the Army in 1919 listing her sons' surviving blood relatives. She and her husband Joseph were still living at 21 Church Street, Kirkby in Ashfield. Neither son had married and their surviving siblings were listed as: John (31) of 13 Cookson Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, Annie [Hilda Ann] Taylor (28) of 2 Glenfield Street, Loscoe, Derbyshire, and Jessie (22) and Winifred Alice (20) both of 21 Church Street. Hilda Anne had married William G Taylor in 1913 (O/N/D Basford); she probably died in 1973 (Sep Nottingham) aged 81. Winifred Alice probably married John T Smith in 1923 (J/A/S Basford) and died in 1990 (May Basford) aged 91 (b. 7 August 1892).