Gerald William Lancaster
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Gerald William Lancaster was born in 1889 at Sherwood Nottingham, he was the only son of the late William a company secretary and Annie Lancaster of 31 Lenton Avene, The Park, Nottingham. His father William was born in 1848 at Wigan he died in 1910 in Nottingham aged 62 and his mother Annie Worlidge was born in 1861 at Altringham, Cheshire, they were married on 13th August 1884 at St Matthews Church, Stretford, they went on to have a daughter Ethel born 1887 at Sherwood. In the 1911 census the family are living at 31 Lenton Avenue, The Park, Nottingham and are shown as Annie 50 yrs a widow living on own means, she is living with her children Ethel 24 yrs no occupation listed and Gerald William 22 yrs a mining engineer, also living with them is Hannah Lancaster 68 years a sister in law. Gerald's probate was proven on 13th August 1919 at Nottingham, it shows him as Gerald William Lancaster of Bestwood, Nottingham, Captain in H.M.Army died 14th September 1918 in France, his effects of £2148. 1 shilling and 3 pence were left to Margaret Ethel Lancaster spinster.
Captain Gerald William Lancaster was commissioned September 1914, he was wounded on 4/3/1915, wounded again 16/4/1918 and again 28/8/1918. He is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery Grave Reference: IV A 16The citation for his Military Cross was published in the 'London Gazette' on 2nd December 1918:“Capt. Gerald William Lancaster, 3rd Bn., Man. E.3 attd. 15th Bn., Welsh E.“He was specially selected to command one and a-half companies, to reconnoitre across a river, and. secure crossings. The duty was of a difficult and dangerous nature, but he carried it out with complete success, capturing five machine guns and some prisoners, and inflicting losses on the enemy. The battalion crossed in safety two days after. He was subsequently wounded for the third time, but he continued to lead and encourage his men at a critical moment, until he collapsed from loss of blood. His gallantry and fine leadership have been conspicuous on more than one occasion.”Above citation is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Article published 18th September 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “CAPTAIN GERALD W. LANCASTER, Monmouthshire Regt., attached to Welsh Regt., who died in France on September 14th from wounds received in action on August 27th, aged 29 years, was the only son of the late W. H. Lancaster, of [illegible], Nottingham, and Mrs. Lancaster, Greylands, The Park, Nottingham, He was educated at Shrewsbury School. In September, 1914, he obtained a commission in the Monmouthshire Regt., and was dangerously wounded March, 1915, during mining at Hill 60. He went out again to France in October, 1917, and was attached to the Welsh Regt., and wounded for the second time in April of this year. He rejoined the Welsh Regiment in June. By profession he was a mining engineer, and was at the Bestwood Colliery until the outbreak of war.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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