Ezekiel Eaton
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ezekiel Eaton (junior) was born in 1894 at Ilkeston and was the son of Ezekiel Eaton (senior) a twisthand and Clara Eaton née Godbehere. They lived at Concert Hall Yard, King Street, Southwell, Nottinghamshire. His father Ezekiel (senior) was born in 1861 at Ilkeston and his mother Clara Godbehere was born in 1863 at Sheffield. They were married in 1881 at Sheffield and went on to have 9 children, sadly two were to die in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were; Edmund b1882 Ilkeston, Annie Elizabeth b1885 Ilkeston, Ada b1888 Ilkeston, James b1891 Ilkeston, Ezekiel b1894 Ilkeston, Rose b1896 Ilkeston and Thomas b1904 Southwell. In the 1911 census the family are living at Concert Hall Yard, King Street, Southwell, and are shown as Ezekiel 50 yrs a twisthand, who is living with his wife Clara 48 yrs and their children, Ezekiel 17 yrs a spooler, Rose 15 yrs a scholar and Thomas 7 yrs a scholar.
Private Ezekiel Eaton enlisted on 17th February 1911 giving his age as 17 yrs and 3 months. He gave his address as King Street, Southwell, and his next of kin as his father Ezekiel of the same address. His occupation was a lace hand working for E Carey & Sons of Southwell. Ezekial joined the Territorial Force, 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was embodied on 5th August 1914 and landed in France on 2nd March 1915. He was wounded in action on 8th May 1915 a gun shot wound to his thigh and was admitted to the field hospital before being transferred to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne. He was transferred to England on 15th May 1915 and was admitted to the 4th Northern General Hospital. According to his death certificate, Ezekial died at 12.25am on 17th May 1915 at the hospital. The cause of death was given as gun shot wound to his thigh, septicaemia and cardia failure. He was buried at Southwell Minster (St. Mary) Churchyard, Nottinghamshire.
Nottingham Evening Post, 19 May 1915: ‘At Southwell. Private Eaton, of the Southwell Company, 8th Sherwood Foresters, was buried to-day with full military honours. He only arrived at Lincoln Hospital on Friday last, suffering from the affects of a gunshot wound, from which he died on Sunday night. He was only 21 years of age, and an employee of Carey and Sons, lacemakers, of Southwell. The body was removed to Southwell on Tuesday, and was met by an escort of the South Notts. Hussars. Six of his fellow workmen acted as bearers. The funeral service in the Cathedral to-day was conducted by the Ven, Archdeacon of Nottingham, assisted by the Rev. JR Thomas. The Dead March in ‘Saul’ was played by Mr Cyril Wyer, and ‘Rock of Ages’ was sung by the choir. The Royal Engineers now at Southwell furnished a firing party, and sounded the ‘Last Post’ at the graveside. An escort and the bearers were furnished by the South Notts Hussars. The coffin was followed by Mr TD Partingdon, manager of Carey and Sons, Ltd., and a deputation of fellow workmen.’
