William Towle
- Family History
- Military History
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William Towle was born in 1881 in Radford and was the son of William a lace maker and Eliza Towle née Girling of 41 Garfield Road, Nottingham. His father William was born in 1856 in Nottigham and his mother Eliza Girling was born in 1859 in Nottingham. They were married in 1876; the marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration district. They went on to have 4 children, sadly 1 died in infancy; their other surviving children were Arthur b1883 and Gilbert 1885. In the 1911 census the family are living at 41 Garfield Street, and are shown as William 55 yrs a lace maker who is living with his wife Eliza 52 yrs and their children Arthur 28 yrs a hairdresser and Gilbert 26 yrs a lace maker. William married Barbara Carmichael (born 28th January 1882) in 1904 in Nottingham and they lived at 82 Salisbury Street, Old Radford, Nottingham. They had the following children: Lily born 6th January 1905, William born 17th December 1909 and John Towle born 17th February 1911. In the 1911 census the family are living at 102 Salisbury Street, Nottingham and are shown as William 30 yrs a newsagent, who is living with his wife Barbara 29 yrs, who was assisting her husband in his business, and their children Lily 6 yrs, William 1 year and John 1 month. Following his death his widow Barbara was awarded a pension of 29 shiilings and 7 pence a week which commenced on 15th July 1918.
Private William Towle, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 2/5th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. He died on 9 January 1918 of wounds received in action on 20 December 1917. He was buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery in January 1918.
His brother Gilbert Towle was called up for service at Nottingham on 20th March 1916. He was 31 yrs and 134 days old, a lace maker and lived at 41 Garfield Street, Nottingham. His next of kin was his father William of the same address. He was posted to the 18th battalion Sherwood Foresters. He landed in France 9th July 1916 and was wounded and returned to England on 24th April 1917. He returned to France on 10th September 1917 and was once again wounded, suffering a gun shot wound on 23rd October 1917 and again returned to England. He was transferred to the Royal Defence Corps on 6th April 1918 and eventually discharged on 25th April 1919 to his home address 41 Garfield Road, Nottingham. CWGC headstone, personal inscription: 'Loved by all who knew him' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Died of Wounds’, 12 January 1918: ‘Towle. Died on January 9th of wounds received in action on December 20th, 1917. Pte W Towle, aged 26, dearly loved husband of Barbara Towle (nee Carmichael) of 82 Salisbury-street, Radford. Sorrowing wife and children. Funeral Tuesday, Rock Cemetery 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘’In Memoriam’, 10 & 11 January 1918 ‘Towle. Died on January 9th of wounds received in action on December 20th, 1917, Pte W Towle, aged 36 dearly beloved husband of Barbara Towle (nee Carmichael) of 82, Salisbury-street, Radford. Sadly missed by his sorrowing wife and children’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
