Henry Wilsoncroft
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He was the son of Henry and his first wife Annie née Parkin (she died 1902 at Mansfield aged 37 years ) they married in 1886 at Mansfield the name Wilsoncroft Is used on the marriage and the brother of John (killed in action 12/10/1918), Annie, Thomas (killed in action 21/11/917), May, and Gertrude Wilsoncroft. In 1911 they lived on Central Street Sutton in Ashfield. Some uncertainty surrounds this family. The name was actually Wilsoncroft but they appear to have informally adopted Woolsoncroft. John served as Wilsoncroft whilst his brothers used Woolsoncroft. In the 1911 census the family are using the name Woolsoncroft and are living at Central Street, Sutton in Ashfield and are shown as Henry 46 yrs a general labourer in an iron foundry, he is living with his wife Ellen Woolsoncroft 31 yrs (born 1880 Yeovil Somerset ) they state they have been married for 8 yrs and have had 3 children 1 of which has died in infancy. Also shown living with them are Henry Woolsoncroft 19 yrs a moulder in an iron foundry, Annie Woolsoncroft 16 yrs a bobbin carrier, Thomas Woolsoncroft 14 yrs a general labourer in a brickyard May Woolsoncroft 7 yrs a scholar and Gertrude 4yrs , also living with them are Violet Oldfield 15yrs a step daughter and William Oldfield a stepson 11 yrs. Although living as man and wife in the above census we are only able to find a marriage for them in 1921 (September quarter ) at Mansfield , Henry Woolsoncroft to Ellen Oldfield.
Private Henry Woolsoncroft enlisted at Sutton in Ashfield and initially served with service number 13628 in the Leicestershire Regiment, he landed in France on 4th May 1915 and was serving with 1st battalion Lincolnshire Regiment when he was killed in action on 17th May 1915.
Article published 2nd July 1915 in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times :- “FIRST NIGHT IN THE TRENCHES. “SUTTON SOLDIER'S DEATH. “The first night in action (May 17th) Pte. Henry Woolsoncroft, of 2, Central-street, Forest Side, Sutton, met with his death. Information of the sad occurrence was first received from his chum, Private George Bath, but the news was not officially confirmed until this week. Private Woolsoncroft, who was formerly a moulder at a Mansfield foundry, enlisted on September 2nd in the 1st Lincolns. “Private Bath wrote:— “I am sorry to tell you that young Harry Woolsoncroft got killed on Monday. We are working against the same trench where he was. It was the first time up in the trenches for him, and they were just bringing him out when we were going up to the trench. I did not then know who it was, and did not get to know till Tuesday afternoon. I could have dropped when they told me his name. I had been talking to him the day before, when I told him that better days were in store for us. He said he hoped this would not be long. Tell Mrs. Woolsoncroft that I send her my deepest sympathy, and I am sorry with all my heart that it has happened. You do not know from one minute to the next what is going to happen. I believe he got shot through the neck. You do not know what we have to go through out here, what with one thing and another.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
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