Frederick William Thurman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frederick William Thurman was born in Newark in 1889 (reg. A/M/J) and was the son of Frederick, a wood turner, and Florence Emily Thurman (née Dixon Ballard). His father Frederick was born in 1867 in Newark and his mother Florence Emily Dixon Ballard was born in 1866 in Surbiton Surrey. They were married on 5th August 1888 at the North End Weslyan Chapel, Newark, and went to live at 1 London Road, Newark. They had two sons, Frederick William and Bert, born 1891, who died at Newark on 15th July 1895 aged 4. On 23rd November 1897 Florence petitioned at the High Court of Justice in London for a divorce from her husband Frederick on the grounds of adultery (with Mary Ann Morton of Worksop and an unnamed female) and cruelty. The decree nisi was granted on 2nd May 1898 and decree absolute on 14th November 1898. Florence married Fred Staveley (b. 1860 Besthorpe), a maltster, in 1899 (reg. Newark). There were no children of the marriage. Florence and Fred were living on Bowbridge Road, Newark, when Frederick enlisted at Newark in the army in 1904. They later moved to Lowdham Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, but by 1911 were living at 60 Holborn Avenue, Sneinton. Florence committed suicide in February 1927. Her husband Fred died in February 1941 at their home, 153 Barnbygate, Newark. (See 'Extra information')
Frank William Thurman enlisted on 21st January 1904 in Newark, signing on for 12 years with the colours. He gave his occupation as clerk and his age as 14 yrs and 4 months; his army record noted that he attained 18 years of age on 21 September 1907 (birth registered 1889 A/M/J). He served with 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and saw service overseas in Singapore and then India from 12th December 1906 until 2nd October 1914. He was appointed lance corporal on 2 August 1910 but reverted (from drunkeness) on 2 March the following year. He was appointed unpaid lance corporal on 18 August 1911 and to paid rank in 1913. However, he later reverted to private (date illegible). Frank returned to the UK with the battalion which served with the BEF France from 4th November 1914. He was killed on 8th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Frank qualified for the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Service record: Home 21 January 1904-2 November 1904. Singapore 3 November 1904-11 December 1906 (2y 39d). India 12 December 1906-2 October 1914 (7y 265d). Home 3 October 1915-3 November 1914 (60d). BEF France 4 November 1914-8 July 1916 (1y 248d) Total 12y 170d.
Pte. Frank William Thurman described his part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in a letter home which was published in the Nottingham Evening Post on 12th April 1915. “IN THE THICK OF IT. “NOTTINGHAM SOLDIER’S ACCOUNT OF A GREAT FIGHT. “Writing to his mother in Nottingham Private F. Thurman, of 1st Batt. Sherwood Foresters, gives a stirring account of the battle of Neuve Chapelle. He says: “My regiment was in the thick of it. We had orders to leave billets, and made straight for the trenches. I really don’t know where the artillery got all their guns from, but it was deafening whilst they were pell-melling the German trenches. When got to the point of attack we opened out in one line. Then came the order 'Fix bayonets.’ Well, all had a slight idea of what to expect. But we did give them some lead and steel when we had to charge them, and we found we had gone as far as we possibly dare. All night long we were digging ourselves in, and by morning both sides were entrenched again. “For the day remained quiet, but in early hours — to be correct at 4.45 a.m. — the enemy were seen to be making a counter-attack— that is trying to retake their lost ground. It came soon. They advanced in thousands, in fact like lot of sheep running loose. On account of their strength we had to retire to another trench about 200 yards in the rear. We got there just in time. They took the one we had just left, and they let us have it pretty hot. Then they tried to advance further, but they found their mistake — it was like running their heads into a brick wall. They retired again, leaving hundreds of dead and wounded. Then came our turn again. “We had the order to prepare for a charge and regain our trenches. This we did and a good scrap ensued. But they don’t like cold steel, and they either handed in or made a bold run for it. Some got away; many did not. We lost heavily, but nothing compared with their losses. I came out without a scratch.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 2 August 1916: ‘Thurman. Killed in action, Juy 7th, 1916. Private Frederick William Thurman, drummer, Sherwood Foresters, aged 27 years. A noble life laid down. From his loving mother, dad, and Bert.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 18 August 1916, photograph with caption: ‘Drummer FW Thurman (Sherwood Foresters), 60, Holborn Avenue, Sneinton Dale, killed in action July 7th (sic), aged 27.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Thurman Frederick William of 60 Holborn-avenue Sneinton Datle Nottingham private in HM Army died 7 July 1916 in France Administration Nottingham 22 May to Florence Emily Staveley (wife of Fred Staveley). Effects £19 6s. 3d. Newark Herald, 19 February 1927: ‘Newark Woman’s Suicide. Wife Who Could Not Go On. The Inquest. Much sympathy is extended to Mr Fred Staveley, 153, Barnbygate, who found his wife, Florence Emily, dead in a soft water cistern on Monday morning. She was 61 years of age, and had been depressed for some time … Dr BG Ives said he had attended deceased practically continuously for the past two and a half years. She suffered from chronic bronchitis with occasional attacks of neurasthenia. She was very depressed at times and was of a melancholy disposition … He understood that the accident which happened to her husband, whereby he lost his right hand, she felt acutely, and also the loss of one of her sons during the war had left its mark.’ The report continued with further evidence from the doctor and also from Florence’s husband, describing how he found that she was missing from home and searched for her. He found that the well lid was open and saw ‘the deceased floating back uppermost, in the water.’ Florence had left a note for her husband. The Coroner returned a verdict that ‘Deceased committed suicide by drowning herself in a soft water cistern while of unsound mind.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Newark Herald, 8 February 1941: ‘Found Dead. The Newark Coroner ordered a post-mortem to be conducted on Fred Staveley (81), a retired debt collector, of 153 Barnbygate, who was found dead at his home about 9.30 on Tuesday morning [4 February]. The deceased man lived alone and the discovery was made by his brother … An inquest was not deemed necessary.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
