Christopher John Caudwell
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Christopher John was the son of Alfred and Sarah Ann Caudwell (née Peet). His father Alfred was born in Wellow in 1859 (A/M/J Southwell. His mother Sarah Ann Peet was born in Newark in 1860 (O/N/D, Sarah Ann Woodward-sic Peet). She was the daughter of Eliza Peet who probably married Sarah's father, John Wood (sic) in 1863. In 1861 Sarah and her mother Eliza (17) were living with Eliza's widowed father, William. By 1871 Eliza and John were living on Albion Street, Newark, with their four children of whom Eliza was the eldest. John was a sheep dipper and manger maker. Alfred and Sarah Ann were married at Newark Christ Church on 28 November 1882 and had eight children who were all born in Wellow: Fred b. 21 May 1884, Nellie b. 1 October 1885, Eliza b. 9 June 1887, Amy b. 3 March 1889, Alice b. 26 January 1891, Christopher John birth registered 1895 (J/F/M Southwell), Dorothy birth registered 1897 (J/F/M Southwell) and Bertha Ann b. 1898. In 1891 Alfred (32) a domestic gardener, and Sarah (30) were living on Low Street, Wellow, with their five children Fred (6), Nellie (5), Eliza (3), Amy (2) and Alice (under 1 year). The family had moved to Potter Street, Wellow, by 1901. Seven of the eight children were in the home on the night of the census: Fred a railway porter, Eliza a domestic servant day girl, Amy, Alice, Christopher (6), Dorothy (4) and Bertha (2). Only three children were still living at home by 1911: Amy, Christopher, a garden labourer and Bertha. Also in the home on the night of the census was Sarah's mother, Eliza Wood (47) and Alfred and Eliza's grandchildren, Edwin George Caudwell (b. 20 June 1907) and Herbert William Caudwell b. 20 November 1910. It is not known which of their children was the boys' parent. Of their other five children, Fred was working as a shunter (above ground) and living in Warsop, Nottinghamshire, a boarder in the household of Henry and Alice White. Nellie and Alice were employed as a housemaid and cook respectively by Catherine Thompson (79) a widow, in Kensington, London. Eliza was married and living with her husband Charles Edgar Rowbotton and son Alfred John (under one year) in Balderton; her sister Dorothy was also living with them. Christopher's parents were still living in Wellow when he was killed in 1915. His father Alfred died in 1920 and his mother Sarah Ann on 20 February 1939. Probate was awarded to her son Fred, a market gardener, and her son-in-law Walter Favill, an engine cleaner, her daughter Nellie's husband. Of Christopher's siblings: Fred married Alice Wolstenholme (b. 8 October 1887) in 1912 (J/A/S Ecclesall Bierlow Sheffield. They had at least children: Fred b. 1913, Christopher b. 1915, twins Alfred and Wilfred b. 1917 and Robert b. 24 June 1920. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Fred and Alice were living in Ollerton House, Ollerton, with their son Robert; both Fred and Robert were market gardeners. Alice died in 1946 and Fred died on 22 November 1949. The probate record gave Fred's address as Willow Road, Ollerton; probate was awarded to his sons, Fred a waterworks employee, and Robert an insurance agent. Nellie married Walter Favill (b. 13 February 1992) in 1920. Walter had served in the Notts Yeomanry then transferred to the 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters (305522), serving in France from 2 March 1915. He was demobilized on 18 February 1920. He and Nellie had two sons, Hubert Walter b. 12 January 1922 and Alfred G. b. 13 February 1923. In 1939 Nellie and Walter, an engine cleaner (water works) were living at Potter Street, Wellow, with their son Alfred, a packer at a factory, and Nellie's sister Amy Caudwell. Nellie died in 1942. Eliza married Charles Edgar Rowbottom (b. 21 June 1884) in 1909. They had at least two children, Bertha A. b. 1912 and Richard A. b. 20 July 1920. In 1939 they were living on Main Street Balderton; Charles worked at a gypsum quarry. Eliza died in 1965. Amy was living with her married sister, Nellie Favill, in Wellow in 1939. She died in 1971. Alice married John Sanders (b. 21 June 1884) in 1914; they had two daughters Dorothy b. 24 March 1915 and Ruth b. 10 October 1920. In 1939 Alice and John, a gypsum dresser, were living in Newark with their daughter Ruth, a shorthand typist. Alice, now a widow, died on 20 July 1951; at the time of her death she was living at Albert Avenue, Balderton. Probate was awarded to her married daughters Dorothy Webster and Ruth Howard. Dorothy trained as a nurse and was entered on the UK & Ireland Nursing Register on 19 October 1923; in 1925 she was listed on the register living in Wellow. She married Albert Austin Eddowes in 1932 and in 1939 they were living in Newark where Albert, a master butcher/shopkeeper, had a shop with living accommodation. Dorothy died in 1980; her husband died three years later on 12 March 1983 (Redruth). Bertha Ann married William Marshall in 1924 (J/F/M Southwell). She died in 1925 (J/A/S Southwell).
Formerly 13475 Leicestershire Regiment Christopher served in France from 2 March 1915 and died on 25 September 1915 when he was shot in the neck during an attack on enemy trenches. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium (Panel 3). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC Ploegsteert Memorial (extract): 'The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood. The original intention had been to erect the memorial in Lille ... Most of those commemorated by the memorial did not die in major offensives, such as those which took place around Ypres to the north, or Loos to the south. Most were killed in the course of the day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line, or in small scale set engagements, usually carried out in support of the major attacks taking place elsewhere.'
Also known as CAULDWELL WM14269. Church of the Holy Cross, Upper Langwith with Langwith Basset, nr. Bolsover, Derbyshire - Christopher John Caudwell is commemorated on the parish memorial 'British Army railwaymen died in the Great War': Christopher John Caudwell d. 25 September 1915 2nd Bn Lincolnshire Regiment occupation cleaner Great Central Railway, Langwith Junction CME Dept. References: Great Central Railway Journal, February 1916, p. 198 and St Paul’s Cathedral Order of Service 1919 Pte C J Caudwell Worksop Guardian 29 October 1915 'The 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment was in the great advance which took place recently and one of their number, Pte C J Caudwell of Wellow lost his life in the charge. He is the son of Mr and Mrs A Caudwell and was 20 years of age, going out to France in April. He was a youth of fine character and exceedingly popular in the village. His chum, writing to break the news to his parents said that their son was shot through the neck on September 25th and died almost immediately. The regiment had made the charge and taken two lines of trenches when he was stuck down. “He died bombing the Germans and died bravely,” adds his chum. Mr and Mrs Caudwell wish to thank all kind friends and sympathisers in their sad loss. The unfortunate soldier is a nephew of Mrs A Wood, Krel Cottage, Newark.' Mansfield Reporter, 26 May 1916 (extract): ‘Rufford. Cricket Club. The annual general meeting was held last week … Mr J Baker, who is acting as ‘hon. sec., pro. tem., referred with much regret to the fact that two members of the club had been killed in action, namely, Jack Davis and Chris. Caudwell, both of the Sherwood Foresters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Note: although the report gives both soldiers' regiment as the Sherwood Foresters, there is no other Chris. [Christopher] Caudwell on the Nottinghamshire Roll of Honour. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: payments allocated to his father, Alfred. WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Sarah Ann.
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