Bernard Arthur Wass
- Family History
- Military History
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Bernard Arthur was the son of William and Ada Wass (née Wall). His father William was born in Sutton in Ashfield in July 1871 and his mother Ada was born in Mansfield, also in 1871. They were married at Mansfield St John the Evangelist in December 1893 and had eight children. The eldest, Annie Elizabeth, was born in Mansfield in December 1893 and baptised at St John the Evangelist in 1894. Her younger siblings were born in Sutton in Ashfield: Mabel b. 1896 bap. St Mary Magdalene 1897, Bernard Arthur b. 12 November 1898 bap. St Mary Magdalene 15 October 1900, Frederick William b. January 1902, Herbert Henry b. 1903, Ernest Edward b. 1905, Edith Ellen b. 1907 and Harry b. 1910. William and Ada were living at 13 Union Street, Mansfield, when their daughter Annie was baptised in 1894 but had moved to Sutton in Ashfield by the time their second child, Mabel was born in 1896. They were living on Gill Street when Mabel was baptised in 1897. However, the family was living on King Street when Bernard was baptised in 1900 and his parents and their three children, Annie, Mabel and Bernard, were recorded on the 1901 Census in Jefford Yard, King Street. William was working as a bricklayer. By 1911 the family was living at 7 Club Street, Sutton in Ashfield: William a coal miner, Ada and their eight children: Annie and Mabel who worked in a hosiery factory, Bernard, Frederick, Herbert, Ernest, Edith and Harry. Bernard attested in February 1916 giving his address as 58 Alfred Street, the family home. However, his parents had moved to 54 Alfred Street by June 1919 when his mother completed a form for the army listing Bernard's surviving blood relatives: Parents: William and Ada Wass, 54 Alfred Street Brothers: Frederick William (17), Herbert Henry (15), Ernest Edward (13) and Harry (9) all of 54 Alfred Street Sisters: Annie Elizabeth Featherstone (25) Deep Dale Yorkshire, Mabel Waring (22) Sutton in Ashfield and Edith Wass (11) 54 Alfred Street Annie had married Luther B Featherstone in 1916 and Mabel married William H Waring in 1918. Ada probably died in 1928 but her husband William, a retired journeyman bicklayer, was still living at 54 Alfred Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. His sons Ernest and Herbert were also living on Alfred Street. William may have died in 1956.
1st Bn Royal Guernsey Light Infantry. Formerly North Staffordshire Regiment Bernard Arthur Wass enlisted on 16 February 1917, 'for duration of war', at the age of 18 years 96 days. He was posted to the 2nd (Home Service Garrison Battalion) North Staffordshire Regiment which was posted to Guernsey for garrison duties. According to information on his army record, he was treated (or vaccinated) at the Millitary Hospital Alderney. The battalion became the 17th Bn Royal Defence Corps into which Bernard transferred on 9 August 1917. However, he was transferred again, this time to the 2nd Bn Royal Guernsey Light Infantry on 26 August 1917. Bernard was posted to France, embarking on 23 January 1918 and disembarking the following day. He joined CIBD on 28 January and the 1st (Service) Bn RGLI on 3 February. Bernard was killed in action three months later on 13 April 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium (Panel 11). The 1st (S) Battalion Royal Guernsey Light Infantry had been formed from the Militia in 1916 and had served on the Western Front, including the Battle of Cambrai, from 1917. It took part in the Battle of the Lys (Fourth Battle of Ypres, 7-29 April 1918) during the German spring offensive in Flanders. The battalion sustained such heavy casualties that it left the Divison and became GHQ Troops. Bernard qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Ploegsteert Memorial (extract): The memorial 'commemorates more than 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector during the First World War and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from the line Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton, in Belgium, to the north, to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes, in France, to the south, including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe, and Ploegsteert Wood ... 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.' (www.cwgc.org)
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