Henry Bagnall
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Henry was born in 1892 in Hucknall Torkard and was the son of Ezra a coal miner and Betsy Bagnall née Staley . His father was born in 1864 in Winshill, Derbyshire and his mother Betsy Staley was born in 1871 in Hucknall, they were married at the Basford Registration office on 6th October 1884, at the time Ezra was living at 1 Spring Street, Hucknall, they went on to have 9 children all of whom were born at Hucknall, they were Ezra b1887, Sarah A b1890, Henry b1892, Alfred b1896, Francis May b1898, Frederick b1900, Doris b1901,Ethel b1904 and Albert b1908. In 1911 census the family are living at 2 Spring Street Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire, In 1920 his father Ezra dies in Basford he was 57 yrs of age.
Henry joined the 8th battalion Sherwood Foresters (Territorial Force) on 4 November 1911 at Kimberley, with the number 1321. On 14 March 1912 he attested in the 4th battalion (Extra Reserve) Sherwood Foresters and was aged 20 years 7 months, 5 feet 4 inches tall and Church of England. He was also given the new number of 4360. His employment was given as Coal Miner. He was mobilised on 5 August 1914 and went with the 4th battalion to Sunderland. On 27 December 1914 he was posted to the 1st battalion in France. During February 1915, the battalion attempted to improve the defensive positions and it was seen as a 'quiet' time. Sadly for Henry, he was severely wounded on 17th and moved to the 25 Field Ambulance at Estaires. He died there on the following day and was buried in the cemetery nearby. Buried Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension, grave II.B.7.
On 14 September 1915 his Mother received his effects, which consisted of 1 disc, 1 photo, 1 tract and 1 New Testament. Article published in the Hucknall Dispatch dated 25th February 1915 :- Sgt. William George Gotham,25th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps, wrote to his family with the news of his death: "I fetched him from the trenches very early this morning mortally wounded, and he expired peacefully on the way to our hospital. I found your address in his pocket and thought it might ease the minds of all [of] his relatives to know that everything possible was done for him, and that he will be buried in the French cemetery in this place." Above article courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 His father Ezra also attested on 28th August 1915 at Hucknall, he was 52 yrs of age and a collier, he served with service number 30966 as a private ,in the territorials at first he was in the 16th battalion Chatsworth Rifles, Sherwood Foresters and was then transferred to the 19th reserve battalion. He was discharged on 14th April 1916 being deemed unfit for further military service.
