Fred May

Fred May was born in 1890 the son of James, a furniture remover, and Mary May née Ibell. She died at Nottingham aged 55 in 1909. James was born in 1858 in Shalstone, Buckingham, Mary Ibell in 1855 at Barton, Hampshire. Married in 1877 in the Basford Registration District, they had the following children, all of whom were born in Nottingham - James Benjamin b.1880, John Thomas b.1882, Harry b.1884, Lily b.1888, Fred b.1890, Jesse b.1893, Joyce Mary b.1895 and Edith b.1898. In 1911, the family was living at 20 Connaught Street, Radford, Nottingham. On that year's census, James was listed as a furniture remover, living with his daughters Joyce Mary a lace hand and Edith a packer and sorter. Also at the address were his married son Harry, a labourer, his wife Emma and their children Prudence aged 5, Harry Ambrose aged 4 and James William 4 months. Fred had left the family home and joined the army by 1911. He was serving as a private soldier and cook with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters who were in barracks in England.