Arthur Denby
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Arthur was the son of William and Sarah Denby (née Kirk). His father William Denby was born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1849 A/M/J Mansfield), the son of Samuel Denby and his first wife Elizabeth (née Stringfellow) who died in 1855. Samuel Denby had five children by his first wife and six by his second, Mary Ann (née Hudson); the children's births ranged from 1845 to 1878. His mother Sarah Kirk was also born in Sutton in Ashfield in 1849 (J/F/M Basford). William and Sarah were married at St Mary Magdalene, Sutton in Ashfield, on 14 April 1868 (A/M/J Mansfield) and they had 14 children of whom nine were still living in 1911. Twelve children have been traced between 1869 and 1898: James William b. 8 August 1869 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. 28 October 1878 St Mary Magdalene, Walter b. 1871 (O/N/D Mansfield) bap. St Mary Magdalene 20 January 1873 d. 1906 (A/M/J Mansfield), Samuel b. 1874 (A/M/J Mansfield, Harold b. 1876 (A/M/J Mansfield), Everett b. 4 August 1879 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. St Mary Magdelene 3 August 1880 d. 1882 (O/N/D Mansfield), Harry b. 1861 (O/N/D Mansfield), John Charles b. 1884 (A/M/J Mansfield) and Mary Waring b. 13 May 1886 (A/M/J Mansfield), who were all born in Sutton in Ashfield and then the four youngest children who were born in Ilkeston: Albert b. 1889 (O/N/D Mansfield), Catherine Kirk b. 1894 (O/N/D Basford) d, 1895 (A/M/J Basford), Evelyn b. 1896 (A/M/J Basford) and Arthur b. 14 August 1898 (J/A/S Basford). In 1871 William (21) and Sarah (21) were living on Hardwick Street, Sutton in Ashfield, with their first child, James (1). By the time of his baptism in 1878 they were living on Forest Street, then in Barnes Yard in 1873 when Walter was baptised and on Reform Street when Everett was baptised in 1880. However, by the time of the 1881 Census William, a framework knitter, and Sarah, a seamstress, were living on Union Street, still in Sutton in Ashfield. They had five children: James (12), Walter (10), Samuel (7), Harold (5) and Everett (2) who died the following year. The family had moved to 26 King Street, Ilkeston, by 1891 and William was now working as a hosiery knitter. In the home on the night of the census were seven of their eight surviving children: James (21) and Samuel (17) who were also hosiery knitters, Harold (14) a coal miner, Harry (9), John (7), Mary (5) and Albert (11 months). Also in the household was a lodger, Alfred Fowler (27) who was also a hosiery knitter. Walter had married Ruth Mary Davis in 1891 (J/F/M Basford) and in 1891 was living on Slade Street, Ilkeston. By 1901 the family was living at 331 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, which was still the family home when Arthur was killed in 1918. In the house on the night of the census were William and Sarah and eight of their surviving ten children: Samuel (27) a framework knitter, Harry (19) a curtain maker's assistant, John (17) a slater's apprentice, Mary (15) a framework knitter's assistant, Albert (11), Evelyn (5) and Arthur (3). James had married Martha Barber on 3 August 1896 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Ilkeston; they were to have had five children by 1911 of whom only two had survived. Walter and his wife Ruth were living on Chatsworth Street, Sutton in Ashfield. Walter died five years later in 1906. William (61) and Sarah (61) were still living at 331 Nottingham Road in 1911; only four of their nine surviving children were still living at home: Samuel (37), Albert (20) a coal miner, Evelyn (14) 'a runner-on' in the hosiery trade, and Arthur (12). John had married Florence Smith in 1904 (O/N/D Basford) and in 1911 they were living at 17 Gladstone Street, Ilkeston, with their four children. Mary had probably married William Watson in 1908 (O/N/D Basford) and in 1911 they were also living in Ilkeston with their son, William (1). William died in 1917 (J/A/S Basford) and Sarah in 1923 (J/A/S Basford).
SS Mavisbrook RNVR records are available from The National Archive; a fee is charged. Arthur was serving in SS Mavisbrook, owned by SS Tregenna Co Ltd (Miller & Richards) Glasgow, in 1917. The ship was on passage from Cardiff to Malta with a cargo of coal when she was sunk on 17 May by torpedo fired from the German submarine UB-50 (Kapitanleutnant Franz Becker). The wreck lies 50 miles from Cabo de Gata. Seventeen of the crew were lost apart from Arthur, including the master, Peter Hawick Gray (46) of South Shields and Seaman John McCull RNVR (22) of Wicklow. Franz Becker was a successful submarine commander (42 ships sunk, 5 ships damaged); he survived the war (1888-1980). Arthur's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Arthur is probably commemorated on the Ilkeston war memorial (A Denby). The WW1 Pension Ledger and Naval Casualties records name his mother, Sarah Denby, as his next of kin. His brother James William enlisted in October 1914 giving his age as 34 years 2 months, date of birth 1880 - he was born on 8 August 1869. He named his wife Martha and father William Denby (331 Nottingham Road Ilkeston) as his next of kin. At the time he enlisted he and Martha had four children, Herbert Leslie b. 1900 (J/A/S Basford), George Sidney b. 26 April 1906, Marion Irene b. 28 September 1912 and Kenneth b. 27 January 1914. James was posted to the Notts & Derby Regiment and served at home from 17 October 1914-23 October 1915 and with the BEF from 24 October 1915-13 March 1818 with leave in February 1918. James then served at home from 16 March 1918 to 29 June 1918 when he was discharged as being no longer fit for war service (Silver Badge No. 415762). He died in 1939 (J/A/S Ilkeston) aged 69. One of Arthur's close relatives, Samuel Denby, served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and died of wounds on 27 April 1917 (St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen). Samuel was the grandson of Benjamin Denby (b. 1847) who was brother to Arthur's father, William (See record on this ROH.) A cousin, Oswald Denby, the son of Benjamin and William's half-brother John (b. 1865), is commemorated on the Skegby St Andrew's war memorial. However, Oswald died in 1920 and no military record has yet been traced. (See record on this ROH.)
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