Charles Walter Widdowson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Charles Walter was the eldest son of Charles and Alice Widdowson (née Kitchen). His father was born in Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, in 1861 and his mother in Elkesley, Nottinghamshire, in March 1863, the daughter of Bemrose and Ann Kitchen. Charles and Alice were married at Nottingham St Ann in August 1884 (Widdowson/Kitching-sic) and had at least three children who were all born in Nottingham: Charles Walter b. 1885 bap. Nottingham Emmanuel 19 July 1885; George Albert b. 1888 bap. St Ann 1889 and Frederick Harold b. 1890 bap. St Ann 1890. Their sons' baptismal records show that Charles and Alice were living at 147 Alfred Street, Nottingham, in 1885, 8 Guys Terrace in 1889 and 4 Rose Street in 1890. However, in 1891 they were living at 15 Corporation Road in the parish of St Mary's: Charles (30) a barman, Alice (28), Walter (6), Albert (2) and Harold (under 1 year). Charles snr. died later that year (reg. June Nottingham). Alice was recorded on the 1901 Census living in Sheffield where she was housekeeper to a widower and his three adult sons. Two of her sons, Charles, a groom (domestic), and Frederick were living at Markham Moor, East Markham, with their maternal grandparents Ann and Bemrose Kitchen, a retired blacksmith. George Albert was in North Collingham, near Newark, with his aunt and uncle Sarah Jane (née Widdowson) and Arthur Willis, a miller and baker. Also in the household was John W Renshaw (20) a baker ('servant'). Alice was still working as a housekeeper in 1911 but was now in East Markham in the employ of widower John Lee, a retired farmer. Charles, a gardener (domestic) was living in Markham Moor with his widowed grandmother, Ann Kitchen, while Arthur, a miller and baker, was still with his aunt and uncle in North Collingham. The youngest brother, Frederick Harold, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. Alice was living at Woodhill, North Collingham, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled and was still living in the village at the time of her death in 1954. Her son George, a retired baker, was awarded probate.
1/6th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. Formerly 1/5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers (4/4352). Charles Walter Widdowson enlisted in Retford. He served in France from 1916. Charles died at No. 24 General Hospital, France, on 22 November 1916 and was buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. XX.B.6). The entry in the Registers of Soldiers' Effects records that Charles 'died No. 24 General Hospital France' suggesting that he died of illness, disease or injury rather than of wounds. Charles qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Etaples Military Cemetery (extract): the town of Etaples is 27 km south of Boulogne. 'During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained.' (www. cwgc.org)
Military records in name of Charles Walter and also Walter. CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'We miss him more than words can tell Mother, Albert and Harold' CWGC: 'Son of Alice and the late Charles Widdowson, of East Markham, Newark, Notts. Native of East Markham Moor.' Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His mother Alice Widdowson was his sole legatee. The following two items from local newspapers refer to Charles' brother, George, who appealed to the Newark Rural Tribunal in August 1916 for the exemption from military service of his employee JW Renshaw, baker (see 'Family history', 1901 census details) and his own appeal for exemption in September 1916. Newark Advertiser, 16 August 1916: ‘Newark Rural Tribunal’. Mr JC Kew JP, presided over a sitting of the Newark Rural Local Tribunal yesterday at the Ossington … Collingham Bakers. Mr GA Widdowson applied for JW Renshaw, baker, of Collingham [1911 res. North Collingham with wife and child]. Mr Curtis [military representative] explained that this man was the only baker left for Mr Widdowson and Mr Willis. Mr Willis’s baker had been taken, and he believed some arrangement would be made by which Mr Widdowson would supply the bread to Mr Willis, and the Advisory committee therefore recommended that this man have conditional exemption. Conditional exemption was granted.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Newark Herald, 2 September 1916: ‘Newark Rural Tribunal ... Mr JC Kew JP, presided at a meeting of the Newark Rural Local Tribunal on Tuesday … Mr GB Burke appeared for Albert Widdowson, baker, of Collingham. It transpired that the applicant had been before the Local and the Appeal Tribunal. Mr Burke said the Appeal Tribunal extended the time granted by the Local Tribunal … Mr Burke stated that the Local Tribunal gave Mr Widdowson to July 31st and the Appeal Tribunal extended the time to August 15 … Mr Curtis [military representative] asked if the facts were not that the Appeal Tribunal, without altering the decision of the Local Tribunal, requested the Military Authorities not to call Widdowson up for a fortnight after July 31st.. Mr Burke said that was not so. It was decided that the appeal could not be heard.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) No military records have yet been found for George suggesting that he may later have made a successful appeal for exemption from military service.
