Michael Herbert Edmonds Colton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Michael Herbert Edmonds was the son of Michael Herbert Colton and Minnie Jane Colton (née Hutchinson). His father Michael Herbert, a solicitor, was born in 1865, the son of Michael and Esther Eleanor Colton (née Hutchinson, m. South Scarle St Helena 1862) of South Scarle Hall. Michael Herbert's father died in 1873 (buried Collingham All Saints churchyard). The family continued to live at the Hall. His mother Minnie Jane was born in Newark in 1864 and was the daughter of John and Emma Hutchinson (née Hutchinson, m. Newark St Mary Magdalene 1854). Her father was a master draper and milliner and in 1871 he, his wife and their seven children, including Minnie (6), were living in the Market Place, Newark. Also in the household were four assistants and six apprentices (either milliners or drapers) and four domestic servants; a cook, housemaid and two nurses, presumably caring for the children. AI 1881, at the age of 16, Minnie was a draper's apprentice in Leicester. Michael Herbert married Minnie Jane at St Mary Magdalene in June 1893. They had four children: Michael Herbert Edmonds b. 1894, Dorothy Edmonds b. 1895, Stanley Edmonds b. 1898 and Harold b. 1904. Michael, Dorothy and Stanley were baptised at North Collingham All Saints, Michael on 21 June 1894. In 1901 Michael, Minnie and their three children were living at 'Brooklands,' Low Street, North Collingham; they employed a cook and housemaid. Harold was born three years later. The family had moved to 71 Harcourt Street, Newark, by 1911 although Michael snr. was not in the home on the night of the census and Minnie was described as married but registered as the head of household. As well as Minnie's four children, her widowed mother, Emma, and unmarried younger sister, Flora, both of private means, were also living with her. Minnie employed a general domestic servant. Minnie's husband has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but may already have been in hospital. Michael Herbert snr. died on 20 December 1914 at the Coppice Hospital, Nottingham, three days after the death of his mother Esther Eleanor on 17 December. Both were buried at North Collingham All Saints. Esther's second son, Thomas, continued to live at South Scarle Hall after the death of his mother and died the following year on 22 September 1915, a month after his nephew Michael Colton was killed in action on 22 August. It seems likely from a newspaper report of Michael's death in 1915 that his mother and surviving siblings were still living at 17 Harcourt Street but some time later Minnie and her children moved to South Scarle Hall where she died in 1936. Michael's younger brother, Stanley, served in the war and was killed in action in 1918. (See 'Extra information'). Their sister Dorothy married George E Pennington, who was in the Sudan Civil Service, in 1924, and had two sons, Michael Edward (1925) and John Stanley (b. 1927). In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Dorothy and her husband, now retired from the Sudan Civil Service, were living at South Scarle Hall. Their brother Harold, an estate agent, lived in London and married in 1939 (Elfrida M Pendarves).
Michael Colton joined the Sherwood Rangers some time between February 1913 and February 1914 (1665 joined on 20th February 1913 and 1811 joined on 21st February 1914). He served in 'A' Squadron as a stretcher bearer. Michael was killed at Gallipoli on 22 August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. A memorial service was held at South Scarle Church on 30 September 1915 following the funeral of his uncle, Thomas Colton. Sherwood Rangers, August 1915: 'Landed Suvla Bay during night (17th/18th). Moved to Lala Baba (20th), forward position at Chocolate Hill (21st). Took part in fighting for Scimitar Hill (21st). Relieved (22nd) after heavy casualties and on to Lala Baba.' He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Helles Memorial (extract): 'The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. From the end of August, no further serious action was fought and the lines remained unchanged. The peninsula was successfully evacuated in December and early January 1916.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
His younger brother, Second Lieutenant Stanley Edmonds Colton M.C., 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in action on 28 March 1918 aged 19. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Newark Herald, 26 December 1914: ‘Death of Mr MH Colton. The death of Mr MH Colton, solicitor, occurred at Nottingham on Sunday morning last [20 December]. The deceased gentleman was formerly in practice as a solicitor at Newark being in partnership successively with Mr WH Morledge and afterwards with Mr AJ Franks. He also held the appointment as Clerk to the Newark Union … Amongst other offices he held at one time or another were the secretaryship of Collingham Public Hall and Churchwarden at North Collingham Church. Ten years ago he had a serious breakdown in health, and has been a complete invalid ever since. The deceased was a son of Mr and Mrs Colton, South Scarle Hall. His father died many years ago, but his mother [Esther Eleanor Colton] passed away only two days before her son, at the ripe age of 83 years. The deceased gentleman leaves a widow and family, one son, Mr MH [Michael Herbert Edmonds] Colton, at present serving with his regiment, the Sherwood Rangers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) The Magnus School’s Diary of The Great War - ‘Sunday 22 August 1915: Stretcher bearer Michael Herbert Edmonds Colton, 21, suffered a hero’s death amid blazing gorse in one of the most vicious battles of the Dardanelles campaign in Greece. The eldest son of the late Michael Herbert Colton of South Scarle Hall, Bert, as he was universally known was more genteel than warlike, but a thorough patriot. While attended the Magnus he became one of the first Scouts in the movement founded by Baden Powell. After leaving school, he went into the office of Edward Bailey and Son, Auctioneers, in Kirkgate and spent his recreational time either as District Scoutmaster or as a baritone singer in local concerts. Bert perished when the Yeomanry Division – which had been retrained in an infantry role – was ordered to charge up a target known as Chocolate Hill. In an age before telephone, radio, television or email, his widowed mother Minnie Jane Colton received letters over the next few weeks and months assuring her what a hero he was. Major Harold Thorpe of Coddington wrote from a crowded dug-out with shells flying all around: ‘Your brave son … brought no less than 14 men out of one patch of burning gorse and personally dressed the wounds of 10 of them. Unfortunately he was struck by a shrapnel bullet in the head and fell mortally wounded. I cannot express my admiration of the work done by the stretcher bearers … He has always been in my Squadron and has always been the pattern of what a soldier should be.’ Private Frank Robinson, 22, son of photographer Frank and Clara Robinson of Lombard Street who was also serving with the Yeomanry, wrote to Miss Ivy Lees, also 22, at 41 Portland Street: ‘He died like a hero. His duties as stretcher bearer took him right into the firing and there is no ducking as they have to carry the stretcher. Anyway, he and his chum carried in 34 cases before he was shot in the head. He is the only one hurt among the Newark fellows. We have lost the Colonel and some men killed and a few officers and some men wounded.’ A memorial service was held for Bert in South Scarle Church on Thursday 30 September 1915 immediately after the funeral service of his uncle, Thomas Edward Boot Colton, a land owner, merchant and for 15 years a Notts County Councillor. Private 1715 Colton of ‘A’ Squadron Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry is also remembered on the Helles Memorial.' Nottingham Evening Post, 11 September 1915: 'NEWARK SHERWOOD RANGER. DEATH AFTER HEROIC EFFORTS. The first casualty reported of a Sherwood Ranger from Newark is to hand, accompanied by a stirring story of the gallant hero's brave deeds on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The deceased soldier is Trooper Michael Herbert Edmunds Colton, 21, the eldest son of the late Mr. M. H. Colton (Messrs. Colton and Franks, solicitors) and Mrs. Colton, 71, Harcourt-street, Newark. Major Harold Thorpe, the squadron commander, writing to Mrs. Colton. says that her son brought no fewer than 14 men out of the burning gorse and personally dressed the wounds of ten of them before he was killed by a shrapnel bullet. Trooper Colton was a pioneer of the Scout movement in Newark, and was the district scoutmaster under the Commissioner, Captain J. P. Jeffcock, a former adjutant of the Sherwood Rangers.' Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-198 Newark Herald, 11 September 1915: ‘How a Newark Sherwood Ranger Died. Pte MHE Colton Killed in Action While Succouring Wounded.' The report contained information about Michael's military service, including the extract from Major Thorpe's letter. Newark Herald, Saturday 2 October 1915: ‘Death of Mr TEB Colton South Scarle. Funeral and Memorial Service to Pte MHE Colton. The death occurred on Monday[27 September] at his residence, South Scarle Hall, of Mr TEB Colton [Thomas Edmond Boot b. 1863], a member of the well-known Notts. family … For the past seven years he has borne his illness with exemplary patience and fortitude, but he had a great shock by the death of his oldest nephew, Private MHE Colton, of the Sherwood Rangers who was killed at the Dardanelles … Memorial Service. At the conclusion of the funeral the congregation again assembled in Church, when a short memorial service was held to the late Michael Herbert Edmunds Colton, of the Sherwood Rangers, stretcher bearer, who was killed in the Dardanelles, on Sunday, August 22nd, 1915. The hymn ‘Praise to the Holiest in the height' was expressively sung, and the Vicar read the opening sentences from the office for the burial of the dead. This was followed by the 23rd Psalm. The lesson was read by the Rev. JW Lavers and was taken from Rev. xxi., 1-8. The Nunc Dimittis was solemnly chanted, and the Vicar afterwards proceeded to read the passage from the burial service, commencing ‘Man that is born of a woman,’ etc. Further suitable prayers and collects were recited, and then the hymn, ‘On the resurrection morning’ preceeded the blessing, which was pronounced by the Vicar, bringing a very impressive service to a close. As the congregation left, the organist played ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 22 October 1915: ‘A Nottingham Man in the Dardanelles, Exciting Experiences. Story of the Fighting Round Chocolate.' Underneath this caption, the newspaper published a long and detailed letter from Private JP Kennedy, Sherwood Rangers attached RAMC, to his family about the ‘fighting round Chocolate Hill.’ In the letter he described an incident when, as they were ‘falling in’ at eight o’clock, ‘a shell dropped right in the centre of our party, and three stretcher bearers were laid out by this one shell. Private Colton, of the Sherwoods, died shortly after being hit, and I believe that the other casualties were the South Notts, and the Derbyshires.’ Although the date of the incident was not given, it is likely that it refers to Trooper MEH Colton. At the time of writing the letter, Kennedy, who was recovering from dysentry, was onboard a hospital ship having been transferred from Gallipoli to Lemnos and then, instead of being taken ashore, transferred to another hospital ship, the implication in the letter being that he was to be evacuated to the UK. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Colton Michael Herbert Edmonds of 71 Harcourt-street Newark Nottinghamshire died 22 August 1915 at Chocolate Hill Gallipoli Administration (with Will) London 18 February [1928] to Minnie Jane Colton widow. Effects £89 0s. 9d. Newark Herald, 21 March 1936: ‘Obituary. Mrs Colton, South Scarle Hall. It is with regret that we announce the death of Minnie Jane Colton, aged 72, of South Scarle Hall, which took place yesterday afternoon. Mrs Colton, whose husband, Mr Michael Herbert Colton (of the first of Colton and Franks Solicitors), died many years ago was the daughter of the late Mr and Mrs John Hutchinson ... Her eldest son, Mr Michael Herbert Edmonds Colton was killed at Gallipoli in 1915 whilst serving as a Trooper in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry. Another son, Lieut. Stanley Edmonds Colton MC, of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, met his death in France during the closing stages of the war. There are two surviving children, Mr Harold Edmunds Colton, now residing in London, and Mrs George Pennington, who has just returned to South Scarle from the Sudan where her husband has been engaged in work in connection with the irrigation scheme. The funeral takes place at South Scarle Church on Tuesday at 11 o'clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.uk
