Claude Bilbie
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Claude was the youngest child of William and Harriett Bilbie (née Waplington). Both his parents were born in Nottingham, William in about 1845 and Harriet, the daughter of George and Ann Waplington, in 1844. They were married at Radford St Peter on 28 March 1864 and had at least twelve children, the eldest of whom was born before their marriage: William Bilbie Waplington (later k/a Wm Waplington Bilbie) b. 1862, Charlotte b. 1864, George b. 1866, Elizabeth birth registered 1868 (J/F/M), John b. 1870 d. 1914, Mary Ann (Pollie) birth registered 1874 (J/F/M), Jane (Jennie) b. 1876, Frank b. 1879, Samuel birth registered 1881 (J/F/M) d. 1904, Harriett Beatrice (Beatrice/Beatie) b. 1884, Harold b. 1885 and Claude birth registered 1890 (J/F/M). The family was living at South Street, Radford, at the time of the 1871 Census and at 26 Mitchell Street, Radford in 1881. However, by 1891 William, a foreman (gas works), and Harriett had moved to 140 Willoughby Street, Lenton, where they were living with ten of their children: Charlotte and Elizabeth who were hosiers, John a butcher, Mary a mantle maker, Jane a laundress, Frank, Samuel, Beatrice and Harold who were at school, and Claude (1). William, a butcher, had married Rosina Barrow in 1883 and they and their four children were living on Alfred Terrace, Nottingham. George, a lace warehouseman, had married Annie Elizabeth Scott at Nottingham Emmanuel in 1887 and they were living at 16 Gladstone Street, Nottingham. Claude's mother Harriett died in October 1899 (buried Lenton Priory) after which the family was dispersed. In 1901 her husband William, a timekeeper, and his son Frank, a labourer (tan yard), were living at 140 Willoughby Street, Nottingham, with William's married daughter, Elizabeth and her husband Robert Thrale (m. 1895). Charlotte was married to Albert John Hopkins (m. 1895), a lithographic artist, and they were living on Massey Street, Nottingham, with his widowed mother and sister. George, his wife and two sons were still at 16 Gladstone Street. John, an engineer's storekeeper, had married Florence Edith Neep in 1892 and they were living at 6 Norton Street, Nottingham, with their four children. Mary Ann was married to Harry Cawthan, a greengrocer, (m. Lenton St Anthony 1897), and they were living at 41 Turner Street, Nottingham, along with Mary's three brothers, Samuel a greengrocer, Harold a builder's clerk and Claude (11). Jane had married William Bexton/Bexon, a yarn salesman, at Lenton parish church in 1900 and they and their infant son together with Jane's unmarried sister Harriett Beatrice were living at 289 Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham. William snr. probably died in June 1909 (buried Lenton Priory). Harriett Beatrice married Walter Lewis Burton at Nottingham St Ann in 1907. Her husband served in the war with the Army Service Corps (290363). Harold married Betsy Louisa Cordon in 1907. He served with the South Staffordshire Regiment (67802 Private) from November 1916 but was discharged on 7 November 1917 being 'no longer physically fit for war service.' He had served in France from 28 February 1917 to 31 May 1917. Samuel married in 1902 but died in February 1904 and was buried at Lenton Priory. Frank attested in the Imperial Yeomanry in January 1902 on a Short Service Engagement (One year with the Colours). He was aged 22 years 10 months and employed as a labourer. He served in South Africa with 149th Coy. 33rd Battalion from 14 May 1902 to 20 October 1902. He appears to have either inccured an injury or wound or contracted an illness while on service overseas as a 'casualty place' - Frobisher Bay - is mentioned in his army record. Frank was discharged at Aldershot on 29 October 1902 ('own request'). Service record: Home 10 Jan 1902-13 May 1902 (124 days). South Africa 14 May 1902-20 October 1902 (161 days). Home 21 October 1902-28 October 1902 (7 days). Total 292 days. Claude named his brothers William of 61 Coppice Road, Nottingham, and George of 16 Gladstone Street, Nottingham, as his next of kin when he joined the Grenadier Guards in 1910.
Short Service Engagement, Grenadier Guards: Age at enlistment 20yrs 4m, occupation carter. Attested and enlisted Nottingham on 14 June 1910 and joined at Caterham on 19 June 1910. Claude transferred to the Army Reserve on expiration of his period of Army Service (3 years) on 14 June 1913. He was mobilized on 5 August 1914 and served in France from 26 August 1914; the 2nd Battalion had landed at Le Havre over a week earlier on 15 August. He was wounded 14/16 September 1914 but remained in France until 24 September. He then served at home from 25 September 1914 until returning to France on 28 August 1916. The Batallion had transferred to 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division, on 20 August 1915 and it took part in the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917, including the Battle of Pilkem (31 July-2 August). Claude was killed in action on 31 July 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium (Panel 9). Claude's next of kin were notified on 18 August 1917 of his death. He qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (extract): 'The Third Battle of Ypres an offensive was mounted by Commonwealth forces to divert German attention from a weakened French front further south. The initial attempt in June to dislodge the Germans from the Messines Ridge was a complete success, but the main assault north-eastward, which began at the end of July, quickly became a dogged struggle against determined opposition and the rapidly deteriorating weather. The campaign finally came to a close in November with the capture of Passchendaele ... The battles of the Ypres Salient claimed many lives on both sides and it quickly became clear that the commemoration of members of the Commonwealth forces with no known grave would have to be divided between several different sites. The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions).' (www.cwgc.org)
Claude's sister, Elizabeth Bilbie, married Robert Thrale in 1895 and they had two sons, Robert (b. 1896) and Claude (b. 1898). Robert jnr. served with the 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (2025 Corporal) and was killed in action on 1 July 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Elizabeth's brother-in-law Henry Thale served with the Canadian Infantry (670185 Private) and was killed in 1917. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Claude's brother, William Bilbie Waplington (later took surname Bilbie), married Rosina Barrow in 1883 and they had seven children including two sons, William and George Ernest (Harry), who were killed in the war. William Bilbie served with the Canadian Infantry (67827 Private) and was killed in France on 9 August 1917. George Ernest (Harry) served with the 11th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment (G/15141 Private) and was killed in France on 21 October 1916. (See records on this Roll of Honour) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 11 August 1917: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, July 31st, Private Claud Bilbie, the beloved youngest brother of George Bilbie. The great sacrifice. From family.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 11 August 1917: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, July 31st, our dearly loved youngest brother, Private Claud Bilbie, Grenadier Guards, of 19 Harley-street, Lenton, late Coppice-road. The great sacrifice. Always dearly loved.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 13 August 1917: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, July 31st, my dearly-loved brother, Private Claud Bilbie, Grenadier Guards, 19 Harley-street, Lenton, late Coppice-road. Mother in Heaven, if thou canst hear my prayer, Oh, take thy child once again to thy tender care. His sorrowing sister and brother, Pollie [Mary Ann Cawthan], Harry, and little Lottie. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 13 August 1917: ‘Bilbie. Killed in action, July 31st, Private Claud Bilbie, Grenadier Guards. Ada, also her mam & mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 31 July 1918: ‘Bilbie. In unfading memory of dear brother Claud, killed July 31st, 1917. ‘Twas to be, dear brother, so au revoir, not good-bye. Harold and Bet.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 31 July 1918: ‘Bilbie. In cherished memory of my beloved brother, Pte, Claud Bilbie, Grenadier Guards, 19, Harley-street, Lenton (late Coppice-road), killed in action July 31st, 1917. What would I give, dear, to clasp your hand and bid you welcome home. Sorrowing sister and brother, Pollie [Mary Ann Cawthan], Harry, and little Lottie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam,’ 31 July 1918: ‘Bilbie. In proud and loving memory of Pte. Claud Bilbie, Grenadier Guards, killed in action July 31st, 1917, beloved son of the late William and Harriett Bilbie, Lenton. Cherished memories and loving thoughts of you, dear brother. Always his sorrowing sister and brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam.’ 31 July 1919: notices from (1) Pollie [Mary Ann Cawthan], Harry, Lottie (2) sisters Charlotte, Lizzie [Elizabeth], Jennie [Jane], Beatie [Harriett Beatrice] (3) Harold and Bet [Betsy]. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam.’ 31 July 1920: notices from (1) Pollie [Mary Ann], Harry, Lottie (2) ‘loving sisters’ Nottingham Evening Post, 20 April 1918: “POLICE CASUALTIES. TWO NOTTS. CONSTABLES KILLED IN ACTION. “To a meeting of the Notts. Standing Joint Committee at the Shire Hall, Nottingham, to-day, [20th April 1918] Sir Ernest Paget presiding, the Chief Constable (Capt. W. H. Tomasson) reported that two constables of the County Police Force, namely, Claude Bilbie and Fredk. J. Hinchcliffe, had been killed in action: the former on July 31st, 1917, and the latter on March 25th of this year. Bilbie had been stationed at headquarters, and Hinchcliffe, who was the best man he had for a long time, at Mansfield. “The Committee joined with Capt. Tomasson in his expression of regret." Report courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
