Arthur Henry Penford
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Arthur Henry Penford was the son of Beatrice Penford, name of father not recorded. His birth was registered in 1897 (J/F/M Mansfield) and he was baptised at Mansfield SS Peter & Paul on 17 January 1897; his mother was living at 65 Ratcliffe Gate. Arthur appears to have always lived with his maternal grandmother, Eliza Penford. Eliza Penford (née Cowley) was born in Chesterfield and baptised at Chesterfield St Mary and All Saints on 1 September 1846. She married Henry Penford on 16 October 1864 at Mansfield SS Peter & Paul. Henry (b. Farndon, Newark) was a miller, like his father and several of his brothers. Eliza and Henry had at least five children, all girls: Anne b. Mansfield abt. 1865; Frances Elizabeth b. Mansfield 1870 (d. 6 March 1914, Morley); Florence (Florrie) b. Mansfield 1 July 1875 (d. October 1965, Walker); Beatrice b. Mansfield 25 December 1877 (d. 6 January 1959, Bennett) and Nellie Ida (reg. Ellen Hyde Penford) b. Basford 25 May 1881 (m. Herbert Smith 1902 div. by husband 23 June 1919). In 1871 Eliza, described on the census as a miller's wife, was living with her widowed mother Hannah Cowley at Barton Court, Mansfield, and her daughter Frances (6m). Her husband Henry, a miller, was living at 69 Forest Side, Sutton in Ashfield. By the time of the 1881 Census and just before the birth of her fifth daughter Nellie in May, Eliza was living at Durban Terrace, Basford, Nottingham, with her daughters Anne, Frances, Florence and Beatrice and a lodger, Francis Hyde (23), a carpenter and joiner. However, Eliza had returned to Mansfield by 1891 where she was working as a cotton mill hand and living in Vallances Square with Frances (20) and Florence (15) both cotton mill hands, Beatrice (13) and Nellie (9). On each census she was described as married but also as head of household. Her husband Henry has not yet been traced after 1871 and it is likely that they had separated before 1881. By 1901 Eliza was living at 28 Portland Street, Highfield Terrace, Mansfield. She was now widowed and housekeeper to the head of the household, James Stevenson (63), a harness maker (employer). Also in the home were three of her daughters Florrie and Beatrice, both shoe machinists, Nellie (no occupation) and her grandson Arthur (4). Beatrice married Henry Bircham Bennett in 1901 (J/A/S Mansfield) but in 1911 her son Arthur, a draper's errand boy, was still living with his grandmother at 36 Portland Street, Mansfield. Eliza was still living at the same address when Arthur died in 1918. She died aged about 74 on 31 December 1919 (reg. 1920 J/F/M Mansfield). Beatrice and Henry Bennett (32) a saddler and harness maker (colliery) were living at 42 Victoria Street, Warsop, in 1911. Also in the household were their sons George Birchham (b. 1901 d. 1964) and Philip Henry (b. 29 May 1909 d. 1978). A third child, Alan Josiah, who was born in 1907 (O/N/D Mansfield) died the same year. Henry Bennet served in the RAF in the war. He and Beatrice were still living at 42 Victoria Street in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled; he was still employed as a colliery sadler. Beatrice died on 6 January 1959; she was widowed and living at 42 Victoria Street. Her son George was executor of her Will.
1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters Arthur served in France with the battalion from 7 March 1915. He died on 9 October 1918 at No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station, France, from wounds received in action. He is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery, France (grave ref. VII.A.25). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC Tincourt New British Cemetery (extract): 'The villages of Tincourt and Boucly were occupied by British troops in March 1917, during the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. From the following May until March 1918, Tincourt became a centre for Casualty Clearing Stations. On the 23rd March 1918, the villages were evacuated and they were recovered, in a ruined condition, about the 6th September. From that month to December 1918, Casualty Clearing Stations were again posted to Tincourt. The cemetery was begun in June 1917, and used until September 1919 ... After the Armistice it was used for the reburial of soldiers found on the battlefield, or buried in small French or German cemeteries.'
Arthur Henry was related to John Victor Penford and William Henry Penford who also died in the war. John's father, John Penford, and William's father, Frederick Penford, were brothers. Arthur's grandfather, Henry Penford, was brother to Frederick and John. John Victor Penford, 1st Bn Sherwood Foresters (10280 Private Victor Penford) killed on 13 May 1915 (Blidworth St Mary memorial). William Henry Penford, 7th Bn East Yorkshire Regiment (36674 Private) died of wounds on 28 April 1917 (Mansfield St Lawrence, Mansfield St Peter memorials). CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Ever in our thoughts' See record for Private Percy May 1/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters who was killed on 15 June 1915 - Arthur wrote a letter of sympathy to Percy's parents. Arthur lived next door to William Harrison, Machine Gun Corps, who was killed on 18 November 1916. Date of death: CWGC and Registers of Soldiers' Effects - 9 October 1918. UKSDGW, Medal Rolls Index Cards and family notices - 10 October 1918 Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’, 1 November 1918: ‘Penford. Died of wounds in France on 10th (sic) October, Lance Corporal Arthur Penford, grandson of Mrs E Penford, of Portland-street, Mansfield, age 22 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 8 November 1918 (photograph): ‘Lance-Corpl. Penford Killed. Lance-Corpl. Arthur Henry Penford, Notts. and Derbyshire regiment, died in the No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station, France, on October 10th (sic), the result of wounds. The chaplain, writing to Mrs Penford, 36, Portland-street, says the deceased sent a message of love to you and to all at home, as well as to his aunts and uncles. He was wounded in the side, and had to undergo an operation. At first it was thought he would pull through.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘In Memoriam’, 10 October 1919: Penford. In loving memory of Arthur Penford, who died of wounds in France, October 10th (sic), 1918. ‘Thy will be done’. From Mother, Grand-mother, Aunts and Uncles.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) ‘In Memoriam’ notices were also placed in the Mansfield Reporter in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925 and 1927. From 1924 the notices were in the names of 'Mother, Auntie Flo.' Flo was Florence Walker née Penford (m. Henry Walker 1919 O/N/D Mansfield). Mansfield Reporter, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 January 1927 (also 1923, 1924): ‘Penford. In loving memory of Eliza Penford, died December 31st, 1919. ‘She suffered in silence’. Our mother. From her daughters Flo and Beatrice.‘ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
